THE  SWISS  CHALET  BOOK 


BY  WILLIAM  S.  B.  DANA,  B.  S. 


GOOD  BOOKS   TO  BE  READ  WHEN  YOU 
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AxMERICAN  RENAISSANCE— A  BOOK  ON  THE 
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TECTURE IN  AMERICA 

By  Joy  Wheeler  Dow. 

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By  William  T.  Comstock. 

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By  William  Phillips  Comstock. 

THE  WILLIAM  T.  COMSTOCK  CO. 

publishers 

23  WARREN  STREET  NEW  YORK  CITY 


THE 

SWISS  CHALET 
BOOK 


A  minute  analysis  and  reproduction 

of  the  chalets  of  Switzerland,  obtained  by 

a  special  visit  to  that  country, 

its  architects,  and  its 

chalet  homes. 


By 

WILLIAM   S.  B.  DANA,  B.  S. 

it 


Profusely  illustrated 

from  architects'  plans  and  photographs, 

special  photographs,  and 

classic  works 


THE  WILLIAM  T.  COMSTOCK  CO. 
NEW  YORK 


03 


Copyright,  1913 

BY 

THE  WM.  T.  COMSTOCK  CO. 


PREFACE 

IN  this  book  the  author  has  endeavored  to  transport  from  the 
center  of  Europe  to  the  Western  Continent,  in  as  complete 
and  illuminating  a  way  as  language  and  line  may  do  it,  the 
chalet  of  Switzerland.     To  some  extent,  too,  it  is  hoped,  the 
atmosphere  itself  has  been  reproduced. 

In  the  series  of  articles  on  "Swiss  Chalet  Design"  appearing 
in  ARCHITECTURE  AND  BUILDING,  November,  191 1,  to 
May,  191 2,  a  logical  presentation  of  this  unique  architecture  was 
attempted,  beginning  with  the  simplest  structural  elements,  and 
leading  up  gradually  through  the  larger  system  of  construction 
to  the  question  of  the  assignment  of  interior  space  and  the  beauti- 
fying of  the  external  surfaces. 

"The  Swiss  Chalet  Book"  is  that  series  grown  to  larger  propor- 
tions and  much  matured.  The  best  works  on  the  subject  have  been 
studied  and  their  best  made  use  of.  The  plans  and  photographs 
of  the  chalet  architects  and  fabriques,  as  well  as  their  written  and 
detailed  descriptions,  have  been  an  invaluable  and  indispensable 
aid  in  the  preparation  of  these  pages. 

The  author  is  indebted  to  foreign  and  domestic  librarians, 
and  to  the  publishers'  and  printers'  staffs  and  photographers, 
whose  efforts  have  contributed  to  the  successful  completion  of  this 
book. 

The  approval  with  which  the  magazine  articles  have  already 
been  received,  the  fact  of  the  existence  in  this  country  of  a  large 
number  of  New  World  chalets,  especially  in  California,  some  of 
which  appear  in  this  volume,  and  the  interest  generally  in  chalet 
architecture,  carry  the  assurance  of  a  greatly  extended  study  and 
appreciation  of  the  Swiss  Chalet. 

WILLIAM  S.  B.  DANA, 
Grantwood,  New  Jersey,  January,  1913. 


O  O  O  o <-»  - 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

Introduction ,13 

Chapter  I.     Switzerland  Visited;  Swiss  Architects  and  Builders  .     21 

Chapter  II.    Construction    Details;    Granary   Construction;   Ex- 
amples of  Modern  and  Older  Chalets  ....     29 

Chapter  III.    The  Chalet  Skeleton;  Basis  of  Ornament;  Small 

Chalets 43 

Chapter  IV.    Balcony  and  Gable  Construction;  Doors,  Windows; 

Some  Classic  and  Modern  Chalets 61 

Chapter  V.    The  Chalet  Facade;  Window  Disposition;  Plans  and 

Elevations 77 

Chapter  VI.    The  Chalet  Facade;  System  of  Ornamentation  .     .     87 

Chapter  VII.    The  Chalet  Interior;  Planning;  Plans  and  Eleva- 
tions       101 

Chapter  VIII.    The  Chalet  Interior;  Interior  Decorations;  Fur- 
niture   113 

Chapter  IX.    Adaptations  of  the  Swiss  Chalet  in  Other  Countries  ; 

American  Adaptations 127 

Bibliography 151 


I 


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rm 

TTT 


C 


SHUTTERS 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

Chalet  of  the  Vine .     .     .        Frontispiece 

PAGE 

A  Tyrolese  Chalet 15 

A  Himalayan  Chalet ►....17 

Chalet  Biensis,  Montreux 19 

Chalet  Fulpius  at  Grand  Lancy 20 

Chalet  of  Pasteur  Thomas,  Geneva . 20 

Map  of  Geneva       .  • 22 

Chalet  Design          .    ' 23 

Railroad  Station,  Montbovon . 25 

Chalet  Doorway,  Chateau  d'Oex 25 

Corner  of  Chalet,  Berne 25 

An  aged  Chalet,  Chateau  d'Oex , 25 

A  modern  Chalet,  Chateau  d'Oex • 25 

A  Bernese  Chalet,  with  exterior  alcoves ►     .     »      .      .      .  25 

Street  View,  Chateau  d'Oex 26 

Street  Scene,  Interlaken 26 

Model  of  Chalet .     .     ....  31 

Chalet  at  Geneva 31 

A  Swiss  "Log  Cabin,"  Prototype  of  the  Chalet 32 

Chalet;  Cost  without  Heating,  $2,400 ......  32 

Section  of  Granary,  Golderen 33 

Swiss  Granary,  Grindelwald 36 

Cottages  at  Ruti 37 

Creamery  and  Dwelling  at  Boeningen ......38 

Small  Chalet  at  Geneva 39 

Chalet  at  Geneva ........  40 

Chalet  les  Serves 41 

Chalet  Lotschburg 42 

Swan   Houses,   Lucerne 45-76 

Unfinished  "Chalette" 45 

Chalet   Construction   Details , 45 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Brienzwiler 46 

Summer  House  Chalet 46 

Plans  and  Model  of  Chalet 47 

Chalets  in  Environs  of  Geneva 47 

Chalet  overlooking  Lake  Geneva 48 

Model  and  Plans  of  Chalet 48 

Cottages  at  Grion,  Canton  Waadt 51 

Cottage  of  the  Star,  Ruti 52 

Granary,  Brienz,   1602 53 

Landhaus  at  Interlaken 54 

Gable  Corners  at  Lauenen  and  Meiringen •      •  57 

Group  of  Blockhouses  in  Bernese  Oberland 58 

A  Roomy  Genevan  Chalet  of  To-day 59 

In  the   Environs  of  Geneva 59 

An  Unfinished  Chalet 60 

A  Chalet  near  the  Base  of  the  Jura 60 

Example  of  Gable,  Canton  Geneva 63 

Gable  Consoles,  Window  Section  and  Detail,  and  Door  Detail     ....  63 

Canton  de  Berne,  Brienz 64 

Chalet  at  Varembo 64 

House  of  Sigristen,  Marbach 69 

Gable  and  Roof  Construction  Details  at  Fischenthal 71 

Hospital  at  Friitigen,  Canton  Berne 73 

Blockhouses  at  Grion,  Canton  Waadt 74 

Chalet  du  Plateau  du  Petit  Lancy 75 

Corner  View  of  House,  St.  Peter 75 

Swan  House,  Lucerne 76 

Details  of  House  at  Golderen 76 

Chalet  Matti  at  Interlaken 79 

Chalet  Steinmann  at  Grilly 81 

Chalet  Project 82 

Chalet   Project,   Zurich 83 

Chalet   Project,   Zurich 84 

A  Zurich  Chalet  Project 85 

A  Bernese  Chalet 86 

An  Evolutionary  Series  of  Facades 88 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

Chalet  Details  at  Ruti  and  Willigen 89 

Details,  Brienz,  Kienholz 90 

Inn  at  Treib,  Lake  Lucerne 91 

An  Afternoon  View  To-day 91 

Chalet  at  Iseltwald,  Canton  Berne 92 

Chalet  at  Ysch  near  Iseltwald *      .      .  92 

A  Bernese  Chalet 95 

Chalet  at  Golderen 96 

House  of  Casper  Schild,  Meiringen 97 

Evangelical  Parsonage,  Rossiniere 98 

Ceiling  Corner  Construction 99 

Plan  of  Chalet  Bernardina,  near  Vevey 100 

Chalet  Giraud  at  Varese 103 

Perspective  and  Plans  of  a  Small  Chalet 104 

Chalet  at  Geneva 105 

Plans  of  Chalet  of  M.  Chatelanat  at  Lausanne 106 

Plans  of  Chalet  of  M.  Chatelanat  at  Lausanne 107 

Chalet    Design 108 

Perspective  and  Plans  of  a  Chalet 109 

Chalet  Weber  in  Bulach no 

Chalet,  Canton  Geneva 112 

Dwelling  House  at  Altmatt,  Canton  Schwyz 115 

Residence  of  Justice  of  the  Peace  Huber,  Meiringen 116 

"High  House"  at  Wolfenschiessen 117 

Dwelling  Houses  in  Canton  Schwyz 118 

Examples  of  Parquetry.     Sulgerbach  Fabrik,  Berne 119 

Dwelling  House  at  St.  Peter,  Graubiinden 120 

Furniture  of  Different  Cantons 123 

Details  of  Salons  in  Canton  Schwyz 124 

Detail  of  Buffet  in  Wattwyl : 125 

Salon  of  Baron  Reding-Biberegg,  Canton  Schwyz 126 

An  American  Model  at  Dongan  Hills,  Staten  Island,  New  York  .      .      .      .131 

A  Chalet  in  Southern  California 132 

A  Chalet  in  the  Japanese  Style 133 

Home  of  Albert  Schneider 134 

Chalet  Home  of  Rev.  S.  D.  Hutsunpiller 134 


LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS 

PAGE 

A  Chalet  in  Southern  California,  Plans „  135 

Home  of  Rev.  S.  D.  Hutsunpiller  .      .      .      . 137 

Home  of  Mrs.  G.  L.  Sanderson .  137 

Two  Interiors  in  the  Home  of  Mrs.  G.  L.  Sanderson 138 

Home  of  William  H.  Rees 139 

Home  of  Mrs.   E.   L.   Jocker 139 

A  Street  in  St.  Gotthard 140 

Inn  at  Marthalen,  Canton  Zurich 141 

House  of  Simon  Nageli  and  "Zum  Stopfli"  in  Riiti 142 

Dwelling  at  Steinen 143 

Parsonage  at  Steinen 144 

Chalet  Felice,  Annecy 145 

Chalet  of  M.  Louis  Patrie,  Geneva 146 

Villa  at  Semmering,  Austria 147 

Chalet  at  Oberreith,  Austria 147 

Panelling  in  an  Old  House  in  Altdorf 148 

Stairs  in  an  Old  House  in  Altdorf 148 

Examples  of  Stoves  from  Houses  in  Altdorf 149 

Chalet  Mont-Blanc 150 


INTRODUCTION 

STREAMS,  not  of  lava,  but  of  rich,  life-giving  soil,  have 
been  floating  down  for  ages  in  the  great  river-ways  of  the 
Danube,  Seine,  Rhine,  Rhone  and  Po,  from  the  peak  of 
Europe,  to  replenish  the  lands  of  France,  Germany,  The 
Netherlands,  Austria  and  Italy.  As  a  consequence  of  this  erosion, 
both  of  glacier  and  river,  this  mighty  peak,  or  mound,  has  been  torn 
apart  on  every  flank,  rent  into  chasm  and  valley,  mountain-side 
and  cliff,  to  form  the  ramparts  of  the  Alps,  the  citadel  of  Europe, 
of  which  is  composed  a  large  part  of  the  Switzerland  of  to-day. 

Somewhere  near  the  center  of  Asia  were  once  erected  the 
two  pillars  of  the  human  race.  From  them  issued  forth  great 
streams  of  humanity  flowing  to  all  parts  of  the  earth ;  one  of  these 
arrived,  at  some  remote  time,  at  the  region  of  the  Alps  and  formed 
settlements  at  the  most  convenient  and  strategic  points.  In  the 
time  of  the  Romans,  citadels  were  built  along  the  northern  frontier 
as  places  of  defense  against  the  hostile  Germanic  tribes ;  these  were 
the  beginnings  of  some  of  the  cities  of  to-day,  such  as  Berne  and 
Solothurn  on  the  Aare,  and  Basel  on  the  Rhine. 

It  is  not  in  these  "citadels,"  however,  that  we  must  look  for 
the  presence  of  the  chalet,  or  its  prototype.  The  chalet  is  rather 
the  product  of  the  outlying  districts,  the  home  of  the  agricultural 
and  cattle-raising  classes. 

The  particular  stream  of  humanity,  which  settled  in  modern 
Switzerland,  has  left  behind  it  on  its  way  from  its  starting  place 
in  Asia,  a  stream  of  habitations  which,  if  it  were  in  the  power  of 
human  beings  to  discover  and  reveal,  would  set  forth  luminously 
the  development  from  the  ancient  form  of  dwelling  to  the  modern. 
In  the  Tyrolese  Alps  to  the  east  of  Switzerland,  the  dwellings  are 
unmistakably  of  the  same  species  as  the  Swiss  Chalet.  An  ex- 
ample of  a  Tyrolese  Chalet  is  given  on  page  15. 

Whether  or  not  it  would  be  possible  to  discover  further  to 
the  east  other  links  in  the  chain  of  chalet  evolution,  the  fact  re- 
mains that  Viollet-le-Duc  in  "I'Histoire  de  ^habitation  humaine" 

13 


i4  INTRODUCTION 

makes  this  observation:  "You  will  be  surprised  if  I  tell  you  that 
the  chalets  of  the  Swiss  mountains  are  exactly  the  same  as  one 
sees  on  the  slopes  of  the  Himalayas  and  in  the  valleys  of  Kashmir." 

The  illustration  which  accompanies  the  above  quotation  is 
reproduced  on  page  17.  The  method  of  insulating  from  the  earth 
is  that  of  "stilts"  rather  than  that  of  waterproof  "shoes."  The 
future  consoles,  brackets,  balconies,  balustrades,  gables  and  wall- 
beams,  are  here  seen  in  their  original  simplicity. 

The  primitive  chalet  was  all  inclusive;  that  is,  it  housed  not 
only  the  human  family,  or  families,  but  also  those  of  the  most  use- 
ful species  of  animals,  together  with  their  means  of  sustenance.  A 
glance  at  the  accompanying  plans  on  page  15  will  demonstrate  this. 
A  translation  from  Graffenried  and  Stiirler's  "Architecture  Suisse" 
(1844)  gives  a  glimpse  of  native  chalet-building  on  the  co-opera- 
tive, or  community  plan :  ".  .  .  the  native,  when  he  decides  to 
build,  .  .  .  secures  a  suitable  plot.  In  mountainous  regions, 
as  at  Iseltwald,  where  cultivated  land  is  rare,  the  cost  is  about  1^2 
cents  per  square  foot.  In  less  valuable  locations,  the  cost  is  about 
a  half  mill  per  square  foot.  For  the  wood  for  constructing  his 
home,  the  builder,  if  he  is  poor,  requests  assistance  from  his 
local  government.  Each  community  owns  its  forests,  and  where 
these  are  not  available,  those  of  the  state  can  be  drawn  upon 
for  the  purpose. 

"The  timber  having  been  selected,  the  friends  and  neighbors 
assist  the  home-maker  in  his  work,  the  understanding  being  that  he 
shall  return  the  favor  later  by  an  equivalent  service.  The  work 
is  ordinarily  done  in  winter  when  the  farmer  is  free  from  the 
duties  of  the  field  and  flock." 

The  early  chalets  were  veritable  fortresses  in  wood,  their 
walls  consisting  of  barricades  of  tree  trunks  in  tiers,  one  trunk  on 
top  of  the  other,  and  notched  firmly  together  at  the  corners,  after 
the  fashion  of  the  log-cabins  so  familiar  in  America.  The  foes 
were  by  no  means  all  human,  as  is  evidenced  in  the  case  of  stolid 
chalets  built  on  the  heights  at  the  rear  of  which  a  sufficient  num- 
ber of  trees  have  been  left  standing  to  form  an  additional  protec- 
tion against  avalanches.  Their  roofs,  which  were  allowed  to  make 
vast  projections  in  many  cases,  were  protected  against  the  lifting 
power  of  mountain  gales  by  heavy,  rough  stones  placed  in  rows  on 
top  of  them.  In  the  twentieth  century,  these  same  constructive 
motives  persist,  but  their  bulk  is  greatly  reduced,  the  walls  being 
about  half  their  former  thickness,  and  huge  projecting  consoles 
having  become  diagonal  braces. 


INTRODUCTION 


15 


If  we  allow  ourselves  for  a  moment  to  behold  in  imagination, 
a  spectacle  of  the  thousands  of  present-day  Swiss  chalets,  dismem- 
bered and  gathered  together  to  form  a  great  mountain  of  chalet 
parts,  we  would  find  little  difficulty  in  re-assembling  them  (still 
in  imagination)  into  a  few  great  groups.  We  should  find  a  host 
of  long  red  pine  beams,  rectangular  in  cross-section,  ranging  from 
the  proportion  of  three  to  four  in  the  oldest  chalets  to  one  to  three 
in  the  chalets  of  to-day,  with  their  ends  notched  as  shown  in  Chap- 


Kunmr 

KOck* 

Slut* 

| 

flur 

A  TYROLESE  CHALET 


From  Das  Salsburger  Gebirgshaus. 


ter  II,  and  with  both  edges  grooved  and  gouged;  a  correspond- 
ingly large  number  of  long  narrow  strips,  just  large  enough  to 
fit  into  the  grooves  of  the  beams,  these  two  groups  representing  the 
walls  of  the  chalets  of  the  country.  A  great  heap  of  round  pegs, 
1  inch  by  4  or  5  inches  long,  would  represent  the  means  by  which 
any  two  wall  beams  when  placed  in  position  and  splined  would 
be  held  tightly  together.     (Notice  the  similarity  between  this  wall 


16  INTRODUCTION 

construction,  and  our  own  mill-floor  construction.)  A  small 
mountain  of  beams  thicker  in  section  than  the  wall  beams,  but  less 
than  a  tenth  in  number,  grooved  on  one  side,  would  represent  the 
girts  or  wall  beams,  at  the  floor  levels,  grooved  on  the  inside  face 
to  receive  the  ends  or  edges  of  floor  boards.  A  collection  of  short 
boards  would  be  found  with  edges  cut  to  a  bewildering  number 
of  patterns,  which,  fitted  together,  edge  to  edge,  in  upright  posi- 
tion, would  form  the  bodies  of  the  beautifully  perforated  balcony, 
porch  and  stair  walls  and  balustrades.  Similarly,  the  interior 
wall  finish  (largely  wood  panelling)  and  the  floor  finish,  parquetry 
and  tiling,  as  well  as  the  roof  construction,  and  covering  members, 
etc.,  in  their  respective  groups — the  whole  representing  in  a  greatly 
concentrated  condition,  the  Swiss  Chalet:  the  chalet  which  one 
actually  sees  to-day,  spread  over  the  face  and  features  of  the  fair 
and  magnificent  "playground  of  Europe." 

The  internal  adjustment  of  the  chalet,  as  of  course  for  all 
dwellings,  is  that  of  an  enlarged  and  simplified  human  body.  The 
body  itself  is  a  home;  with  its  organs,  machines,  tubes,  it  may  be 
said  to  be  a  moving  home  for  the  human  spirit;  and  in  the  arrange- 
ments which  Nature  has  planned  for  its  adaptation  to  life,  for  its 
maintenance,  subsistence  and  renewal,  we  may  expect  to  find  the 
inspiration  for  man's  habitations. 

Externally,  too,  the  same  analogy  may  be  permissible,  the 
part  of  the  chalet  which  comes'  in  contact  with  the  earth  being  the 
purely  utilitarian  part,  and  the  topmost  part  being  the  part  of 
thought  and  retirement;  the  part  between  being  that  of  the  ordi- 
nary mechanics  and  intercourse  of  daily  life. 

Moreover,  it  is  symmetrical  and  in  its  alternation  of  voids 
and  wall  spaces,  gaily  decked  with  nosegays,  its  bands  and  strips 
of  wooden  lacework  or  embroidery,  its  overhanging  bowers,  the 
element  of  feminine  humanity  is  strongly  marked.  Standing  on 
the  mountainside,  upright,  its  face  shaded  by  the  wide  brim  of 
its  hat-like  gable,  its  eyes  peering  across  the  wide  valleys,  the 
chalet  has  a  look  surprisingly  and  mysteriously  human. 

The  Swiss  Chalet  begins  as  a  barricade  and  ends  as  a  bower; 
it  begins  with  the  felling  of  forests,  and  ends  with  the  fashioning 
of  villas.  The  history  of  the  Swiss  Chalet  is  that  of  evolution, 
development,  and  improvement.  It  is  the  history  of  all  chalets 
from  those  of  the  Chinese  to  those  of  the  Californians;  of  all 
structures  made  by  all  animal  life  for  their  comfort  and  safety, 
from  the  shell  of  the  mollusc  and  the  spider's  web  to  the  ideal  city 
of  man.     The  chalet,  in  its  modern  form,  dates  from  the  Payenne 


INTRODUCTION 


17 


style  of  the  fifteenth  century,  of  which  Meiringen  is  the  home ;  Ysch 
on  Lake  Brienz  near  Iseltwald,  of  the  year  1765,  represents  the 
second  epoch;  it  is  characterized  by  great  variety  and  richness 
of  ornament.  The  third  epoch  is  represented  by  what  is  probably 
the  noblest  example  of  the  style,  the  chalet  at  Iseltwald.  All  three 
examples  are  given  in  Chapter  VI. 


A  HIMALAYAN  CHALET 


Viollet-le-Duc 


FINIAL  AT  BIENSIS 


CHALET  BIENSIS  MONTREUX,  ON  THE  HEIGHTS  OVERLOOKING  LAKE  GENEVA 


CHALET  BIENSIS,  MONTREUX 
19 


CHALET  FULPIUS  AT  GRAND  LANCV 


Ody  &  Co. 


CHALET    OF    PASTEUR    THOMAS,    GENEVA  THE  RECEPTION  ROOM 

Product    of   Bernese    Fabrik. 


CHAPTER  I 

Switzerland  Visited;  Swiss  Architects 
and  Builders. 

IT  was  my  pleasure  on  a  dazzling  .Genevan  summer's  day  to 
visit  the  handsome  chalet  of  a  certain  universally  esteemed 
pasteur  of  Geneva.  The  impression  that  I  received  was  that 
of  a  palace  of  wood — rich,  warm,  red  wood.  The  floors  were 
of  parquetry,  the  walls  of  long,  narrow,  vertical  panels,  and  the  ceil- 
ing, beamed.  The  chalet,  as  I  approached  it,  appeared  as  in  the 
accompanying  cut,  all  the  shutters  closed  to  keep  out  the  intense 
sunlight.  I  presented  myself  at  the  porch  door  under  the  awn- 
ing and  was  requested  to  enter  at  the  main  entrance  a  little  further 
to  the  left.  I  found  a  generous  hall-way  flanked  on  the  right  by 
a  dining-room,  and  on  the  left  by  a  kitchen ;  next  to  this  came  the 
stairs.  In  the  kitchen  I  noted  the  characteristic  tiled  floor  of 
dull  red  squares  placed  diagonally,  and  the  softly  tinted  porcelain- 
lined  range,  a  peculiar  product  of  Swiss  manufacture.  To  the  rear 
were  the  reception  rooms.  Upstairs  the  arrangement  corre- 
sponded to  that  below,  with  everywhere  the  finish  of  wooden 
panels  and  beamed  ceilings.  A  view  of  the  reception  room  is 
given. 

Geneva  is  a  famous  home  of  chalet  manufacture  and  design. 
From  its  fabriques,  chalets  of  all  manner  of  shapes  and  sizes  are 
sent  forth  into  the  world  to  become  summer  houses,  mountain  rail- 
road stations,  dwellings,  hotels,  etc.  Probably  the  most  important 
manufacturers  are  Ody  and  Company,  and  Spring  Freres. 

These  fabriques  are  indicated  on  the  portion  of  the  map  of 
Geneva  which  is  given  on  page  22;  "A"  is  the  location  on  the  hill- 
top of  Ody  and  Company,  and  UB"  that  of  Spring  Freres;  the  loca- 
tion of  the  United  States  Consulate  is  indicated  by  letter  "C." 

A  night  ride  by  train  along  the  northern  shore  of  Lake 
Geneva,  past  the  enchanting  home  of  Paderewski  at  Morges,  to 
Lausanne,  where  I  spent  the  night;  then  a  Sunday  morning  boat 
ride  across  green  waters  brought  me  to  the  favorite  winter  resort 
at  the  head  of  Lake  Geneva,  Montreux.  On  the  almost  per- 
pendicular mountain  side  above  Montreux,   I  found  Biensis,   a 


22 


SWITZERLAND   VISITED 


MAP  OF  GENEVA 


model  chalet  designed  for  the 
Paris  exposition  of  1880, 
where  it  was  bought  by  a 
prominent  citizen  of  Mon- 
treux,  dismounted  and 
shipped  to  its  present  eyrie. 
An  idea  of  its  situation  may 
be  gained  from  the  photo- 
graph on  page  19;  another  cut 
shows  it  more  in  detail.  A 
leading  citizen  of  Montreux, 
whom  I  had  been  recom- 
mended to  call  upon,  kindly 
gave  me  permission  to  exam- 
ine some  new  chalets  which 
he  was  building.  The  pan- 
orama from  their  balconies, 
under  the  broad  sweep  of  their  vast  gables  was  matchless.  With 
the  aid  of  the  foreman,  who  talked  good-humoredly  to  me  in 
Italian-French-Swiss,  I  learned  the  names  of  many  details  of 
these  chalets.  They  were  still  in  the  unfinished  wood  and  in  all 
cases  I  found  the  walls  to  be  made  of  a  core  of  3-inch  planks, 
on  edge.  The  floors  were  of  cinder  concrete  with  steel  beams, 
the  beams  being  28  inches  on  centers,  with  flanges  234  inches  wide. 
On  the  way  by  the  funicular  railway  from  Montreux  to 
Berne,  among  giant  mountains,  and  through  giant  valleys,  I  took 
some  snap-shots,  at  the  railroad  station  at  Montbovon,  and  several 
at  Chateau  d'Oex  and  Berne,  a  group  of  which  chalets  is  given  on 
page  25. 

Upon  the  advice  of  the  vice-consul  at  Berne,  I  visited  the 
Parquet  and  Chalet  Fabrik  at  Interlaken,  and  obtained  from  them 
a  set  of  plates  with  a  prospectus  of  their  work. 

The  chalet  designers  and  manufacturers  referred  to  in  the 
foregoing  are  among  the  foremost  inheritors  and  preservers  of 
chalet  traditions.  Is  it  that  in  Switzerland  the  people  are  less  im- 
bued with  the  spirit  of  commercialism  and  that  construction  is 
more  honestly  and  rightly  carried  out?  The  building  of  chalets 
in  the  fabriques  is  an  entirely  different  method  from  that  employed 
in  America.  The  dwelling  in  America  is  erected  on  the  site.  The 
lumber  or  other  building  materials  is  brought  to  the  site  and  then 
shaped  and  erected,  with  the  exception  of  such  stock  material  as 
doors,  window  frames  and  milled  pieces.     On  the  other  hand, 


SWITZERLAND   VISITED 


23 


the  chalet  is  entirely  constructed  at  the  fabrique,  or,  to  freely  trans- 
late, mill.  It  is  all  shaped  and  fashioned,  and  put  together,  built 
actually  in  the  mill  yard.  It  is  then  knocked  down  and  shipped 
to  its  permanent  site.  Our  only  parallel  in  America  is  the  port- 
able house  and  although  these  reach  some  pretention  they  do  not 
stand  in  a  class  with  the  chalet  either  in  material,  finish  or  popu- 
lar esteem.  The  individual  characteristics,  aims  and  reputations, 
as  well  as  the  several  equipments  and  methods  of  manufacture 
and  construction  of  the  chalet  fabriques  have  been  set  forth  in 
a  number  of  European  journals. 

In  an  edition  of  "Publications  Internationales"  a  visit  to  and 
inspection  of  the  fabrique  of  Ody  and  Co,  Geneva,  is  interestingly 
delineated. 

According  to  the  article,  the  firm  is  an  old  and  well-estab- 
lished one,  having  been  started  in  1855,  and  having  an  enviable 
record  in  the  character  of  its  output.  Their  policy  has  been  to 
secure  and  maintain  a  constant  supply  of  the  best  wood,  to  which 
end  they  have  acquired  gradually  large  tracts  of  forests;  for  pur- 
poses of  preserving  and  seasoning  their  lumber  the  company  has 
large  storehouses  at  Chandieu,  Bulle  and  Vaulruz,  where  the  wood 
is  sometimes  kept  in  storage  for  ten  years.  At  Chandieu  nearly 
a  half  million  feet  of  lumber  are  kept  stored.  At  Armonis  a  saw- 
mill is  maintained  in  the  midst  of  the  forest  belonging  to  the  firm. 
This  regard  and  care  for  the  source  of  supply,  the  raw  material 
of  chalet  construction,  is  a  great  recommendation  for  the  quality 


CHALET  DESIGN 


Ody  &  Co. 


24  SWITZERLAND   VISITED 

and  durability  of  the  finished  product.  First  and  most  important 
for  the  construction  of  a  good  chalet  the  best  wood  is  needed  and 
Switzerland  is  especially  favored  by  Nature  in  this  matter.  Be- 
yond this,  and  in  connection  with  it,  the  careful  preparation  and 
dexterity  of  treatment  which  result  only  from  long  experience 
are  needed.  The  effect  of  the  weather  on  insufficiently  seasoned 
timber  is  recognized  to  be  of  such  importance  that  particular  at- 
tention is  given  to  the  matter  of  seasoning. 

At  this  plant  there  is  a  saw-mill,  woodworking  room,  par- 
quetry section  and  drying  department,  all  equipped  with  the  most 
modern  machinery,  which  was  introduced  following  a  heavy 
fire  in  1906.  Among  the  many  machines  are  band-saws,  planers, 
moulders  and  mortisers,  and  a  combination  groover,  planer, 
chamferer  and  moulder.  In  the  drying  rooms  the  wood  for  par- 
quetry purposes  is  treated  for  resistance  to  the  effects  of  artificial 
heating. 

Among  the  characteristic  details  of  construction  are  the  groov- 
ing of  the  wall-beams  throughout  their  length,  and  boring  them 
for  dowels,  one  to  the  meter;  the  walls  are  brick-lined,  an  air- 
space being  left  to  insure  a  constant  temperature.  The  exterior 
shell  is  coated  on  the  inside  with  a  hot  mixture  of  Norway  tar  and 
oil,  which  preserves  the  wood  indefinitely.  For  chalets  of  several 
stories,  the  lower  story  is  usually  of  masonry.  The  protec- 
tion of  the  external  portions  of  the  chalets  from  the  weather  is 
insured  by  the  great  overhang  of  gable  and  eaves ;  these  add,  also, 
greatly  to  the  artistic  effect.  The  century-old  chalets  of  the  moun- 
tains, called  "mazots,"  attest  the  great  durability  of  this  form  of 
construction. 

For  the  price  of  a  really  good  chalet,  $400  per  room  is  esti- 
mated; they  range  in  size  from  a  dwelling  of  two  rooms  to  a 
hotel  of  thirty  rooms.  The  firm  mentioned  has  constructed  a 
great  number  of  chalets  not  only  in  Switzerland,  as  the  chalet  sta- 
tions of  the  Geneva  electric  roads,  the  electric  railroads  of  Gruyere, 
but  also  in  France,  America  and  elsewhere. 

The  productions  of  another  manufacturer,  Spring  Freres  of 
Geneva,  are  interestingly  described  in  the  "Revue  Universelle." 
In  this  article  special  attention  is  called  to  the  adaptability  of  the 
chalet  to  exposed  situations  and  localities  where  the  climate  is 
severe,  on  account  of  the  inherent  solidity  of  its  construction ;  evi- 
dences of  the  chalet's  great  resistance  and  durability  are  to  be  seen 
in  the  high  mountain  chalets  still  standing  which  date  from  the 
fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries,  and  are  inhabited  to-day.     They 


i.  Railroad  Station,  Montbcvon. 

2.  A    chalet    doorway,    Chateau    d'Oex. 

3.  Corner    of   chalet,    Berne. 


25 


4.  An  aged  chalet,   Chateau   d'Oex. 

5.  A    modern    chalet,    Chateau    d'Oex. 

6.  A    Bernese    chalet,    with    exterior    alcoves, 

flower    balconies    and    awnings. 


STREET  VIEW,  CHATEAU  D'OEX 


STREET  SCENE,  INTERLAKEN 


26 


SWITZERLAND   VISITED  27 

are  likewise  recommended  for  dwellings  in  earthquake  countries, 
where  stone  construction  would  be  in  constant  danger  of  collapse, 
whereas  wooden  buildings  would  be  scarcely  affected. 

The  unique  product  of  Spring  Freres  is  a  chalet  with  double 
hollow  walls,  produced  by  triple  parallel  walls,  so  constructed 
that  they  are  capable  of  being  erected  or  dismounted  at  the  slight- 
est expense  of  time  or  money.  The  manufacturers  guarantee  with 
these  walls  to  produce  an  insulation  equal  to  that  of  a  22-inch 
masonry  wall.  By  increasing  the  number  of  parallel  walls  the 
insulation  is  correspondingly  improved,  being  equal  in  some  cases 
to  that  of  a  masonry  wall  40  inches  thick.  The  foundations  rec- 
ommended are  of  masonry.  It  is  claimed  that  this  particular  type 
of  construction  has  a  great  advantage  over  the  single  thickness 
wall  because  of  the  reduced  cost  of  transportation  due  to  the 
lighter  weight;  also  on  account  of  the  shorter  time  required  to 
erect. 

These  chalets  are  constructed  in  panels  at  the  factory  and 
shipped  to  any  point;  with  the  exception  of  the  foundation,  an 
entire  chalet  of  fifteen  rooms  can  be  manufactured,  shipped  and 
erected  in  thirty  days'  time.  iEsthetically  and  structurally  this 
type  is  fully  as  satisfactory  as  the  common  type.  Pine,  pitch-pine, 
and  oak  are  employed  in  making  these  chalets.  A  priming  coat  of 
special  oil  is  used  to  protect  this  wood  from  the  weather;  a  still 
further  protection,  of  course,  to  the  exterior  portions  are  the  over- 
hanging gables  and  roofs. 

The  prices  of  Spring  Freres  chalets  range  from  $600  to  $12,- 
000.  In  style,  design  and  size  they  are  very  diverse,  ranging  from 
the  modest  two-room  chalet  to  the  palatial  chalet  of  fifteen  or 
twenty  rooms.  The  firm  claims  for  them  that  they  are  solid,  com- 
fortable and  entirely  livable  the  year  around;  they  do  not  require 
more  repairs  than  the  ordinary  dwelling,  and  they  can  be  made 
semi-fireproof  by  the  application  of  a  special  preparation  to  the 
wood.  The  chalet  may  be  just  as  modern  as  any  other  dwelling, 
and  every  improvement  of  modern  hygiene  and  comfort  may  be 
found  within.  It  is  pointed  out  that  the  scenery  of  Switzerland 
owes  not  a  little  of  its  picturesqueness  to  the  typical  Swiss  dwell- 
ing, the  chalet,  just  as  that  of  England  is  influenced  largely  by  its 
brick  dwellings. 

The  following  translation  of  the  prospectus  of  the  Parquet 
and  Chalet  Fabrik,  Interlaken,  contains  much  interesting  infor- 
mation. 

"The  different  styles  of  old  Swiss  'block  houses,'  the  sturdy 


28  SWITZERLAND   VISITED 

construction  of  which  has  remained  unaffected  for  centuries,  and 
whose  picturesque  outlines  harmonize  so  well  with  the  landscape, 
serve  as  a  model  type  for  chalet  construction  and  design. 

"These  structures,  solidly  made  and  hygienically  modern  and 
comfortable,  are  the  ideal  for  a  dwelling  which  is  at  the  same 
time  sanitary,  artistic  and  livable.  The  wood  used  is  red  moun- 
tain pine  thoroughly  seasoned,  and  guaranteed  against  all  effects 
of  the  weather;  moreover,  special  woods  are  used  for  exposed 
parts,  as  larch,  pitch-pine,  or  exotic  woods.  Projecting  portions, 
such  as  balconies  or  bay  windows  are  protected  by  overhanging 
roofs  and  gables.  All  portions  which  are  to  be  seen  are  either 
planed  smooth,  or  more  or  less  richly  ornamented ;  no  decorations 
are  employed  whose  presence  might  mean  a  reduction  of  strength. 

"The  chalet  rests  on  a  stone  foundation;  in  accordance  with 
the  necessity  or  taste  of  the  owner,  all  or  part  of  the  main  story 
wall  may  be  constructed  of  masonry.  The  exterior  wall  members 
are  formed  of  beams  4  inches  thick,  placed  solidly,  one  on  top 
of  the  other  and  splined  and  dowelled.  For  chalets  for  summer 
use,  these  walls  planed  on  both  sides  suffice;  while  for  a  year-round 
dwelling  an  interior  covering  leaving  a  hollow  space,  is  adopted. 
This  interior  finish  may  be  of  wood  panelling  more  or  less  richly 
decorated,  or  of  rough  wood-work  to  be  lathed  and  plastered  over, 
and  this  covered  with  tapestry  or  paper.  A  building  thus  con- 
structed guarantees  a  minimum  of  heat  in  summer  and  of  cold 
in  winter. 

"The  construction  of  partitions,  floors  and  ceilings,  of  the  roof 
framing,  fire-places  and  chimneys,  of  heating  plants  and  modern 
kitchen  fixtures  does  not  differ  from  that  adopted  for  dwellings 
in  brick  or  stone.  The  framework  of  the  floors  may  be  simplified 
by  leaving  the  floor  beams  exposed  and  planing  beams  and  floor 
boards  alike. 

"For  roofing,  slate  is  employed  preferably,  or  dark-colored 
tiles.  A  chalet  can  be  taken  to  pieces  and  rebuilt  elsewhere.  The 
chalet  can  be  constructed  in  any  dimensions,  and  upon  any  site. 
The  manufacturers  will  furnish  sketches,  plans  and  an  estimate 
of  cost  on  application;  an  exact  plot,  showing  the  approximate 
location  planned  is  sufficient  to  enable  them  to  prepare  these.  In 
case  these  plans  are  accepted,  no  extra  charge  is  made  for  them; 
if  not,  they  are  charged  for  in  accordance  with  the  professional 
rates  of  the  Society  of  Swiss  Engineers  and  Architects." 


CHAPTER  II 

Construction  Details;  Granary  Construction; 
Examples  of  Modern  and  Older  Chalets. 

THE  red  pine  forests  and  granite  mountains  of  Switzer- 
land, in  earlier  days  a  protection  against  national  ene- 
mies, as  well  as  the  background  and  substance  of  the 
world  famous  picturesqueness  and  beauty  of  this  citadel 
of  Europe,  to-day  form  barriers  and  enclosures  of  a  more  lasting, 
civilized  and  civilizing  kind  for  the  dwellers  on  mountain  and 
valley. 

To-day,  forests  of  felled  pine  trees  and  mountains  of  broken 
granite  form  the  Swiss  chalet — the  chalet  of  history  and  romance, 
the  Swiss's  contribution  to  the  Swiss  landscape.  Mountain  slope 
and  crag,  canyon  and  plain,  are  the  natural  setting  for  many 
groups  of  these  unique  and  logical  structures  which  form  the 
typical  villages  of  Switzerland. 

Two  tiers  of  tree-trunks,  a  tree-length  apart,  locked  together 
at  their  ends  by  two  other  tiers,  at  right  angles  to  them,  are  the 
basis  of  chalet  construction.     (See  Figs,  i  and  2.) 

Naturally,  the  notches,  by  means  of  which  the  tree-ends  are 
locked,  are  shallower  or  deeper,  according  to  the  nearness  desired 
between  the  superimposed  trees.  Where  the  interior  space  is 
divided  by  cross  or  partition  walls,  their  ends  are  locked  to  the 
enclosing  walls  in  the  same  way.  The  two  end  walls,  front  and 
rear,  are  brought  to  a  peak,  across  which  a  ridge-pole  is  stretched, 
and  from  which  the  two  sides  of  a  wide-spreading  roof  sweep 
down  to  and  far  beyond  the  walls. 

In  the  typical  chalets  these  trees,  or,  more  accurately  speaking 
tree-trunks,  have  been  square-hewn,  or  sawed,  their  shape  corre- 
sponding to  huge  planks  from  4  to  6  inches  thick;  these,  placed 
edge  to  edge,  one  on  top  of  the  other,  and  extending  from  sill  to 
plate,  or  peak,  form  the  chalet  walls.  The  planks  are  "welded" 
into  a  homogeneous  wooden  sheet,  and  the  joints  closed  to  the 
weather  by  splines  and  dowels.  (See  Fig.  3,  page  30.)  The  end 
notches,  upper  and  under,  for  each  beam  are  each  one-quarter  of 
the  beam  depth,  by  which  means  the  beam  edges  are  brought  tight 

together.     (See  Fig.   4.)     The  weight  of  the  widely  extended 

29 


30 


CONSTRUCTION  DETAILS 


eaves  and  gable-edges  is  taken  by  the  correspondingly  widely-ex- 
tended wall-end  projections,  worked  into  huge  brackets  at  the  top. 
(See  Fig.  5.) 

Where  the  floors  extend  through  the  enclosing  walls,  a  thing 
of  most  usual  occurrence,  they  form  platforms  for  porch  floors, 
balconies,  projecting  rooms,  and  lesser  projections,  as  rows  of 
beam-ends,  etc.  Thus,  with  its  three  elements,  walls,  floors  and 
roofs,  universally  over-lapping,  the  structure  may  be  roughly  in- 
dicated by  the  diagram,  Fig.  5. 

This  shell,  as  thus  roughly  presented,  is  made  to  protect  itself, 
on  its  part,  from  the  attacks  of  natural  forces — gravity  and  the 
rest:  from  gravity,  by  the  careful  locking  together  of  the  walls, 
floors  and  roofs  to  form  a  rigid  structure;  from  beating  rains,  by 
the  wide-flung  eaves ;  from  decay  due  to  dampness,  as  well  as  from 


destruction  by  fire,  by  the  use  of  preservatives,  and  in  the  former 
case,  by  long  years  of  seasoning;  from  the  violence  of  wind  storms 
to  the  exposed  roof  edges,  by  rows  of  heavy,  rough  stones,  placed 
on  top  of  the  roof,  and  held  in  position  by  horizontal  poles  secured 
by  pegs ;  from  extreme  cold,  by  the  holding  of  a  deep  covering  of 
snow  on  the  roof  by  the  roof  stones  and  poles.  The  means  for  the 
regulation  of  air  intake,  or  light,  and  heat  and  cold,  as  well  as  en- 
trance, will  be  discussed  on  a  later  page. 

Let  us  now  consider  an  actual  example.  In  the  center  of 
Switzerland,  near  the  head  of  the  Lake  of  Brienz,  in  the  village 
of  Golderen,  was  built  in  the  year  1740  a  small  chalet,  about  16 
feet  square  by  24  feet  high  from  grade  to  ridge ;  it  is  now  used  as 
a  granary,  but  is,  in  miniature,  a  typical  chalet,  containing  in  its 
diminutive  proportions  the  germ  of  all  the  logic  and  beauty  of  the 
flower  of  Swiss  architecture. 


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MODEL  OF  CHALET 


—  &•£§. 


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CHALET  AT  GENEVA 
3i 


Ody  &  Co. 


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A  SWISS   "LOG  CABIN."     PROTOTYPE  OF  THE  CHALET,  NEAR  BRIENZ 

Varin's   "V Architecture  pittorcsque   en   Suisse. 


CHALET 

Cost,   without  heating,  $2,400 
32 


Spring  Freres  Geneva. 


CONSTRUCTION  DETAILS 


33 


*—  HIT 

■     ' 

TUm 


SECTION  OF  GRANARY,  GOLDEREN 


Graffenried  et  Stiirler. 


On  top  of  a  foundation  wall,  2  feet  high  and  17  feet  square, 
outside  dimensions,  is  a  sill  frame,  $y2  inches  in  section  and  16 
feet  5  inches  square,  outside  dimensions;  the  front  and  rear  sills 
project  beyond  the  frame  (see  Fig.  6),  giving  them  a  total 
length  of  18  feet  8  inches;  across  the  middle,  from  left  to  right, 
is  an  83/2 -inch  girder.  The  corner  joints  are  made  as  shown  in 
Fig.  7.  At  each  of  the  four  corners  and  at  the  middle  of  each 
sill  are  erected  uprights  2  feet  high,  6  inches  square  in  section, 
and  mortised  and  tenoned;  on  top  of  these  eight  posts  is  placed  an 
upper  sill  frame  of  the  same  size  as  the  first,  but  with  the  sills 
projecting  at  front  and  rear  so  as  to  support  a  platform;  counting 
the  projection  at  both  ends,  these  beams  are  22  feet  1 1  inches  long 
and  $y2  inches  in  section.  There  are  no  floor  joists;  floor  boards 
from  1 1/2  to  2  inches  thick  by  6  inches  wide  fit  into  a  groove  near 
the  top  of  the  sill.  (See  Fig.  8.)  On  each  side  sill  is  placed  the 
first  wall  beam,  6  inches  thick  by  13  inches  high;  for  the  front  and 
rear  the  corresponding  beams  are  8^  inches  high.  On  the  front 
sill  at  the  middle,  and  3  feet  yy2  inches  apart,  are  two  door  posts, 
8  feet  high  and  yy  inches  square,  their  outside  faces  flush  with 
the  faces  of  the  wall  beams  as  shown  in  Fig.  9.  Across  on  top 
of  the  posts  is  a  girt,  jy  inches  square;  this  is  carried  around  the 


34 


CONSTRUCTION  DETAILS 


four  sides,  the  top  faces  being  all  flush.  A  girder,  6  inches  deep, 
connects  the  side  sills  at  the  middle  and  takes  the  weight  of  the 
floor  beams. 


FIG.    5 


FIG.    6 


The  boards  are  housed  into  the  sill  frame  all  around,  and  the 
structure  thus  completely  enclosed  to  the  second  floor. 

For  the  upper  compartment  the  wall  beams  are  carried  up  as 
before,  with  the  exception  of  the  front.  Here  three  uprights  are 
erected  on  top  of  the  top  girt;  one  is  placed  exactly  in  the  middle; 
it  is  io}i  inches  wide  and  yj/2  inches  thick;  2  feet  %y2  inches  on 


FIG.    7 


FIG.    8 


either  side  of  this,  uprights  are  erected,  6  inches  by  yy2  inches  in 
section ;  they  are  4  feet  1 1  inches  high.  The  remainder  of  the  space 
is  filled  in  as  shown  in  Fig.  10.  The  lintel  beam  is  13  inches  by 
yy2  inches  thick  and  is  moulded ;  it  is  repeated  at  the  rear  wall ;  on 
the  side  walls  the  corresponding  beam  is  /\.y2  inches  lower  than  this ; 
it  serves  as  the  roof-plate.  The  floor,  which  is  secured  to  these 
beams,  is  5  feet  7  inches  above  the  floor  below. 


jS 


FIG.    9 


The  frame  made  by  the  upper  floor  beams  has  its  ends  project- 
ing beyond  the  wall  face,  a  distance  of  3  feet  3  inches ;  these  outer 


CONSTRUCTION  DETAILS  35 

ends  support  beams  running  parallel  with  the  walls,  and  the  whole 
forms  a  frame  for  a  balcony  which  completely  encircles  the  struc- 
ture. The  three  wall  beams  next  beneath  the  main  frame  also  pro- 
ject beyond  the  walls,  their  ends  cut  to  a  bracket  form  as  may  be 
seen  in  Fig.  11.  At  the  four  balcony  corners  are  5-inch  posts; 
these  support  eave  plates  which  carry  the  extended  rafter  ends. 
There  are  ten  pairs  of  rafters,  5  inches  square,  including  those  for 
the  gables.  The  gable  rafters  are  supported  by  the  extended 
side  wall  beams  as  brackets,  as  well  as  by  brackets  in  between,  one 
of  which  is  always  at  the  peak.  The  ridge-pole,  5  by  15^  inches 
section,  is  26  feet  long,  projecting  5  feet  beyond  the  walls  at  each 
end;  these  projections  are  partly  supported  by  four  beam-ends 
passing  through  and  locked  to  the  front  wall  beams.  The  roof 
is  boarded,  then  tiled  and  weighted  down  by  twenty-eight  rocks. 
The  height  from  grade  to  ridge  is  24  feet.  The  main  facts  of 
chalet  construction  as  outlined  in  the  foregoing  may  be  observed 
in  the  accompanying  illustrations,  as  well  as  many  more  character- 
istic features. 

The  granary  at  Grindelwald,  given  on  page  36,  is  very  similar 
to  that  at  Golderen. 

An  example  on  page  31  is  that  of  a  model,  about  2  feet 
square.  The  woodwork  is  a  light  varnish  color,  the  under-pin- 
ning bluish  with  crimson  joints.  The  cement  for  the  first  story 
is  colored  a  pale  strawberry.  Note  the  use,  on  the  one  hand,  of 
wall  braces  and  corbels  for  the  support  of  the  balcony  and,  on 
the  other,  the  wall  beam-end  brackets  in  the  wooden  portion  for 
the  support  of  the  eaves. 

It  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to  note  here  the  projection  and 
marking  of  the  wall  sill-frame  and,  up  near  the  gable,  that  which 
corresponds  to  our  girt  frame.  The  window  sill  course  also  pro- 
jects. 

On  page  37  two  older  examples  are  given  from  Gladbach's 
" Characteristische  Holzbauten  der  Schweiz."  These  are  inter- 
esting on  account  of  the  presence  of  simple  structural  motives, 
practically  unadorned.  The  consoles  show  mouldings  of  only 
the  most  elementary  form.  On  the  next  page  other  smaller  ex- 
amples are  given,  the  chalet  on  the  right  being  much  more  highly 
developed  than  the  others.  In  this  chalet,  the  projecting  ends  of 
the  cross-walls,  as  well  as  the  consoles,  should  be  noticed. 

Page  39  gives  the  plan  and  elevation  of  a  delightful  little 
modern  chalet  at  Geneva.  Note  the  marking  of  the  upper  floor 
edge  by  means  of  a  row  of  moulded  beam-ends.    At  the  bottom  of 


36 


CONSTRUCTION  DETAILS 


page  31  the  extended  interior  wall  beam-ends,  as  well  as  floor 
edges,  are  seen. 

Chalet  "Les  Serves"  on  page  41  shows  the  use  of  the  isolated 
gable  and  balcony  consoles,  and  curved  wall-brackets  for  the  pro- 
jecting superstructure  of  wood.  On  page  32  note  the  window 
sill  moulding  carried  around  the  building;  the  front  corner  upper 
room  projects,  being  supported  on  a  row  of  beam  ends  and  two 
small  brackets  on  corbels. 

In  the  Genevan  example  on  page  40,  the  wall  sills  of  the 
small  extension  at  the  front  as  well  as  in  the  main  wall,  are  slightly 
accentuated,  and  their  ends  extended  and  moulded  to  stop  the 
pilasters  running  up  to  the  consoles  at  the  eaves.  The  top  floor 
edge  is  suggested  by  a  row  of  moulded  beam  ends.  Similar 
features  are  to  be  noted  in  the  chalet  Lotschberg  on  page  42. 


••*aOK»K 


•^if^Sr 


SWISS  GRANARY,  GRINDELWALD 

Graffenried  et  Sturler's  "Architecture  Suisse. 


COTTAGES  AT  RUTI 

Gladbach's  ''Characteristische  Holzbauten   der  Schweiz. 


37 


38 


Elevation 


Main  Story  Plan 
SMALL  CHALET  AT  GENEVA 


Ody  &  Co. 


39 


Elevation 


-f.r. 


3  T^TiT  °«t»°M- 

-  -j tb?L tfr 


riJ     I  •         II  ii  r- *,, 


3 E~J. i- 


.S|J«. ^ 


Plan 
CHALET  AT  GENEVA 


Ody  &  Co. 


40 


-=■     -:- 


x 


lr  lr  if  I 


41 


CHALET   LOTSCHBURG 


Parquet    &■    Chalet    Fabrik. 


42 


CHAPTER  III 

The   Chalet   Skeleton;  Basis  of  Ornament; 

Small  Chalets. 

THE  preceding  chapter  gives  in  a  more  or  less  rugged  way, 
the  first  shapings  of  the  chalet,  and  the  notchings,  grooves 
and  peggings  with  which  it  holds  itself  and  its  cumber- 
some parts  together;  a  charming  little  structure,  of  the 
year  1740,  a  granary  (grenier)  serving  as  a  simple  introduction 
to  the  Swiss  method  of  construction,  and  giving  a  hint  to  the 
course  which  it  will  take  in  its  ornamentation. 

The  "core"  of  the  chalet,  it  is  safe  to  say,  is  the  same  as  the 
universal  building  "core."  In  our  own  wooden  construction,  the 
twelve  edges  shown  in  Fig.  12  represent  the  twelve  principal  mem- 
bers of  the  frame,  which  compose  the  plate  (or  girt)  frame,  and 
the  sill  frame,  separated  and  joined  at  their  corners  by  the  four 
uprights  or  corner-posts.  But,  whereas  with  us  the  frame  build- 
ing is  an  enclosure  made  by  uprights,  tied,  as  with  a  belt,  by  the 
horizontal  frames  referred  to,  the  structures  which  we  are  con- 
sidering depend  for  their  height  upon  horizontal  members,  as  in 
masonry  construction.  The  proportions  of  door  and  window 
posts  and  lintels  are  those  of  stone.  As  with  us,  the  sill,  girt  and 
plate  frames  support  the  floor  edges.  In  the  sketch,  Fig.  13,  the 
shaded  members  represent  the  irreducible  minimum,  structurally 
speaking,  of  the  chalet.  These  horizontal  frames  act  as  great 
rings  holding  the  building  in  a  powerful  grip.  Other  horizontal 
members  may  be  arrested  at  the  sides  of  the  openings,  but  these 
frames  form  continuous  belts  to  the  shell,  and  it  is  consequently 
to  these  parts  that  we  should  look  for  the  beginnings  of  ornament. 
For  the  purpose  of  our  inquiry,  a  supposititious  roof  structure 
is  here  presented,  Fig.  14. 

The  support  for  the  peak  of  the  truss  is  obtained  by  a  A- 
shaped  section  of  beamed  wall,  but  for  the  sake  of  logicalness  it 
is  assumed  to  be  a  post.  The  final  member  toward  the  completion 
of  this  roof  frame,  the  ridge-pole,  continues  beyond  the  walls  to 
form  the  ridge  of  the  pediment  or  gable;  now  let  the  side  wall- 
plates  be  supposed  to  be  continued  a  like  distance  into  space,  and 

43 


44 


THE    CHALET  SKELETON 


the  heavy  framework  for  the  overhanging  roof,  or  gable,  is  pro- 
vided. Usually  there  are  intermediate  roof-beam  ends,  corre- 
sponding to  purlins;  gable  rafters  complete  the  grill-like  framing 
for  the  gable  roof  covering. 


.^ 


FIG.    13 


FIG.    14 


Just  as  the  members  of  plate,  girt  and  sill  frames  resist,  on 
their  inner  face,  the  pull  of  the  heavy  interior  floors,  so  their  out- 
thrusting  ends  take  the  weight  of  smaller  exterior  floors  for  bal- 
conies and  porches,  with  frequently  an  exterior  staircase.  The 
stiffness  of  these  main  beam-ends  is  added  to  by  a  succession  of 
wall-beam-ends  below,  the  whole  being  cut  and  treated  as  a  single 
massive  bracket.  Sometimes  these  under-supports  are  replaced 
by  slanting  braces  (bras  de  forces),  which  take  the  strain  from  the 
beam  extremity  to  the  face  of  the  wall. 

"A  little  child  shall  lead  us."  An  almost  startling  disclosure 
of  this  truth,  as  applied  to  the  subject  which  we  are  investigating, 
is  to  be  seen  in  the  tiny  summer  house  which  the  writer  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  find  in  course  of  construction  in  the  yards  of  the 
Spring  Freres  Chalet  Fabrique  at  Geneva.  Referring  to  the  cut 
on  page  45  the  diminutive  sill  and  plate  frames  are  to  be  seen 
plainly  indicated  on  the  face  of  the  "chalette,"  as  it  may  be  per- 
missible to  call  it. 

The  door-posts  are  shown  running  from  frame  to  frame,  also 
the  extensions  of  the  side  wall-plates.  At  the  top  is  the  project- 
ing ridge  pole,  with  the  gradually  shortening  beam-ends  under 
it,  to  form  a  strong  console.     The  wall  "filling"  is  plainly  seen, 


UNFINISHED    "CHALETTE" 

Spring  Frcres. 


SWAN   HOUSES,  LUCERNE 


CHALET  CONSTRUCTION  DETAILS 

Graff enried    et    Stiirlcr's    "Architecture    Suisse. 


45 


s-sfe^^-A-  ^   J**%~  •*---£  -^fey 


BRIENZWILER 


Varin's  "V Architecture  pittoresque   en  Suisse. 


SUMMER  HOUSE  CHALET 


Parquet  .  &    Chalet    Fabrik. 


46 


PLANS  AND  MODEL  OF  CHALET 


Ody  &  Co. 


Main    Story 


Upper    Story 


' 

»!■■  llllfS 

-*o^^0* 

* 

«T\ 

Rfjj&M^HRU 

J   i. 

CHALETS  IN  ENVIRONS  OF  GENEVA 


Spring  Freres. 


47 


M 

! 

,: 

^•;1-" 

Jj^J 

CHALET  OVERLOOKING  LAKE  GENEVA 


Spring   Frcres. 


MODEL  AND  PLANS  OF  CHALET 


U.lv   &  Co. 


Main    Story 


48 


THE    CHALET  SKELETON  49 

horizontal  at  the  bottom,  and  vertical  at  the  gable.  Note  the 
method  of  locking  at  the  corners,  as  well  as  their  ornamentation 
and  treatment  as  a  vertical  feature.  What  is  practically  an  in- 
terior partition  wall  may  be  faintly  seen  inside  the  little  porch  en- 
closure. The  treatment  of  its  extension  at  the  front  is  interesting, 
as  is  the  carved  post  opposite,  and  the  moulding  of  the  upper  cor- 
ners of  the  porch  entrance;  also  the  roof-capped  and  moulded  ends 
of  the  sills  below. 

Not  the  least  significant  feature  to  us  is  the  presence  in  the 
budding  chalet  of  horizontal  ornamentation  in  the  front  wall  por- 
tion of  the  plate  frame  over  the  openings;  this  is  produced  by  in- 
dentations in  the  wood  forming  a  kind  of  dentil  course. 

These  "chalettes"  are  portable  (demontables),  being  con- 
structed at  the  fabrique,  and  then  dismounted  and  shipped.  The 
price  of  this  example,  erected  at  Geneva,  is  fr.  550  ($110)  ;  the 
next  larger  size  is  $190;  chalet  kennels  of  all  sizes  are  also  made, 
as  are  swan  houses  and  other  small  structures,  based  on  the  chalet 
model;  chalet  models  for  advertising  purposes  are  to  be  seen  fre- 
quently in  shop  windows,  and  chalet  trinkets  abound.  Chalets  of 
all  sizes  are  designed  at  the  fabriques  and  constructed  bodily  in 
the  yards,  then  knocked  down  for  shipment  to  any  point.  In  the 
yards  of  the  Sulgerbach  Chalet  Fabrik  at  Berne  the  writer  saw  a 
large  chalet  being  erected,  which  was  later  to  be  dismounted  pre- 
paratory to  shipment  to  Geneva.     Its  top  wall  beam  was  numbered 

As  an  illustration  of  the  methods1  of  joining  the  heavy  timbers 
in  chalets,  the  plate  on  joints  and  details  from  Graffenried  and 
Sturler's  "Architecture  Suisse"  is  given.  A  shows  the  method 
of  pinning  the  rafter  ends  together  at  the  ridge  pole.  B  shows 
the  same  rafter  supported  near  the  middle  on  a  purlin,  6  by  9 
inches,  and  made  more  secure  by  a  wooden  pin.  C  is  a  view  of  a 
portion  of  a  7-inch  rafter,  and  D  a  pine  log  sawed  in  two.  E  and 
F  are  a  plan  and  view  of  the  exterior  corner  joinings  and  notchings 
of  wall  beams,  so  vitally  characteristic  of  chalet  wall  construction. 
G  indicates,  in  plan,  the  method  of  joining  wall  beams  to  door  and 
window  posts.  H  is  an  example  of  the  joint  employed  for  securing 
the  balcony  supporting  beam  to  the  upper  member  of  the  console 
beneath.  I  represents  the  joining  of  a  floor  girder  to  the  wall 
girder;  points  of  interest  here  are  the  deep  groove  for  receiving 
the  ends  or  edges  of  the  floor-boards,  and  the  mouldings  of  the 
lower  beam  edges. 

The  last  group,  K  and  L,  is  an  especially  happy  one.     It  repre- 


50  THE    CHALET  SKELETON 

sents  a  score  of  solid  beams,  assembled  to  form  two  locking  corner 
walls  resting  on  a  foundation;  also  window  openings.  The  begin- 
nings of  three  horizontal  belt  courses  of  the  greatest  importance 
may  be  seen,  namely:  the  heavy  sill  frame,  the  window  sill  frame 
and  the  window  lintel  frame.  The  former  and  the  latter  are  extra 
heavy,  while  the  other  is  accentuated  by  a  moulding.  The  five 
shortened  beams  between  window  sill  course  and  lintel  course 
are  of  slight  importance  structurally,  except  as  filling,  and  it  will 
be  noticed  that  these  are  never  ornamented.  The  two  below  the 
window  sill  course  are  frequently  ornamented,  forming,  with  the 
main  courses,  a  pedestal  course.  Allowance  for  shrinkage  of  the 
wall  beams  will  be  found  in  the  space  at  the  top  of  the  window 
posts.  At  the  bottom  of  L  are  indicated  at  e-e,  the  channels  for 
taking  care  of  the  moisture  and  providing  ventilation  to  the  wood; 
at  f  is  an  example  of  a  spline.  At  M  is  given  a  horizontal  section 
of  a  window  opening.     (See  page  45.) 

The  next  example  is  that  of  a  Brienzwiler  from  Varin.  The 
sill,  window  sill  and  lintel  courses  are  here  shown  ornamented,  the 
first  two  forming  the  head  and  base  of  a  pedestal  course.  The 
window  uprights,  also,  are  ornamented,  the  pattern  being  a  scroll 
as  in  the  pedestal  course;  an  example  of  the  style  of  carving  for 
porch  posts  is  also  to  be  seen.  The  upper  portion  of  the  wall 
shows  the  use  of  vertical  boards  to  form  a  frieze,  as  in  the  gable 
wall  in  the  chalette;  these  same  vertical  boards  appear  as  a 
continuation  of  the  pedestal  course  for  the  porch.  Chalet  architec- 
ture abounds  in  perforations  in  these  vertical  boards,  centered  on 
the  joints  between  them.  Note  the  four  distinct  designs  in  this 
example. 

The  summer  house  chalet  at  the  bottom  of  page  46  contains  in 
concise  form  the  chief  elements  of  the  style.  The  column-like 
treatment  of  the  corner  beam-ends,  with  their  pedestal-like  bases, 
and,  at  the  top,  the  wide-sweeping  curve  of  their  capitals,  also  the 
rather  fantastic  carving  of  the  window  posts  and  the  design  of  the 
porch  posts,  are  the  principal  vertical  features  of  the  design.  The 
horizontal  features  correspond  quite  closely  to  those  of  the  Brienz- 
wiler, as  may  be  seen  in  the  pedestal  course  and  its  continuation 
in  the  porch  balustrade,  and,  above  the  triple  window,  the  slightly 
ornamented  face  of  the  plate-frame. 

In  the  model  following  this  example  the  triple  division  hori- 
zontally is  shown;  that  is,  the  rough  stone-work  underpinning,  the 
first  story  cement  over  stone,  with  the  superstructure  of  wood.  The 
*vily  horizontal  bands  of  ornament  are  the  balcony  rail  and  the 


51 


52 


GRANARY,  BRIENZ,   1602 


Gladbach's   "Der   Schweizer  Hohstyl: 


53 


First   Story   Plan 


Second    Story    Plan 


Cellar  Plan 

LANDHAUS  AT  INTERLAKEN  „       ., 

Parquei    &    Chalet    Fabnk. 

54 


THE    CHALET  SKELETON  55 

plate  frame  in  the  gable  end;  the  vertical  elements  are  almost 
wholly  lacking. 

The  next  two  examples  show  similar  horizontal  divisions  and 
ornamental  features.  The  vertical  members  are  slightly  more 
marked,  as  is  seen  in  the  interior  and  corner  wall  extensions. 

The  example  on  page  48,  a  chalet  overlooking  Lake 
Geneva,  is  a  favorite  type  of  present-day  design.  It  is  divided 
horizontally  into  a  lower  half  of  white  cement  and  an  upper  half 
in  rich,  tan-colored  wood.  The  little  bay  window  ell  at  the  front 
is  a  complete  chalet  in  itself,  and  echoing  as  it  does  the  main 
gable,  adds  greatly  to  the  interest  of  the  design. 

The  cuts  at  the  bottom  of  page  48  show  the  plans  and  photo- 
graph of  a  diminutive  chalet  model,  flat  and  simple  in  arrange- 
ment. It  is  almost  square  in  plan  with  the  rear  half  slightly  and 
irregularly  projecting  at  the  sides.  The  ground  floor  is  seen  ex- 
tending in  a  narrow  porch  halfway  around  the  structure,  the  same 
being  railed  in  by  an  attractive  balustrade,  connected  by  two  sets 
of  steps  with  the  ground.  The  supporting  porch  beams  are  seen 
with  their  ends  moulded  and  resting  on  small  boulders.  The 
wall-end  projections  at  the  corners,  with  their  edges  scooped,  de- 
velop at  the  top  into  heavy  consoles  for  the  support  of  the  gable; 
the  upper  floor  edge  is  represented  in  the  facade  by  a  row  of 
moulded  beam  ends.  The  main  floor  plan  shows  four  corner 
rooms  ranging  in  size  from  9  to  1 1  feet  square. 

Chalets  at  Grion  in  the  upper  Rhone  Valley  are  shown  on 
page  51.  Of  these  four  chalets,  the  one  in  the  foreground,  built 
in  the  year  1835  f°r  Bruner  and  Salome,  his  wife,  is  made  of 
very  heavy  wall-beams ;  the  details,  with  the  exception  of  the  balus- 
trades, are  very  plain,  in  fact,  crude.  The  only  horizontal  mem- 
bers which  show  simple  attempts  at  ornament  are  the  window  sill 
beam  and  the  wall  sill.  In  the  other  three  examples,  the  balcony 
and  gable  consoles  and  the  wall  ends  show  the  same  crude  and 
ponderous  treatment. 

Northeastern  Switzerland  is  represented  on  page  52  by  a 
charming  little  "cottage"  chalet  at  Riiti  on  Lake  Zurich.  The 
mountain  peaks  in  the  near  background  seem  to  be  in  complete 
harmony  with  the  roof  peak  and  the  general  sturdiness  of  the  struc- 
ture, even  to  the  trim  rows  of  roof  stones.  The  vertical  and 
horizontal  edges  are  generously  utilized  for  the  attractive  rows  of 
bead-like  ornament,  and  with  the  treatment  of  window  bars  and 
architraves,  porch  balustrade,  and  porch  decoration,  give  a  touch 
of  delicacy  and  refinement  to  this  mountain  abode. 


56 


THE    CHALET   SKELETON 


The  next  page  presents  an  example  of  an  ancient  granary  in  the 
valley  of  Brienz.  Ornament  is  almost  wholly  lacking,  except  at 
the  edges  of  the  window  and  other  uprights,  and  cross-pieces.  The 
use  of  "scooped"  edges  in  beam  ends  and  console  edges  is  a  char- 
acteristic feature. 

The  structure  on  the  right,  which  is  of  the  year  1602,  is  of 
especial  interest.  Of  the  group  of  drawings  at  the  bottom,  No.  V 
gives  an  unusually  effective  beam-end  treatment.  No.  VI  indi- 
cates the  joint  made  by  the  great  isolated  corner  post  at  the  right- 
hand  lower  corner  of  the  building  with  the  two  connecting  wall- 
beams.  No.  VII  shows  the  method  of  joining  the  row  of  beam 
ends  immediately  above  the  corner  post. 

The  "Landhaus"  on  page  54  is  a  modern  example  at  Inter- 
laken,  in  central  Switzerland,  showing  lightness  and  delicacy  of 
treatment  to  a  greater  degree.  In  the  interior  the  large  central 
room  with  an  isolated  porch  on  each  side  is  a  unique  feature. 


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GABLE  CORNERS  AT  LAUENEN  AND  MEIRINGEN 

Gladbach's  "Charactcristische  Holzbauten  der  Schwcis. 


57 


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A  ROOMY  GENEVAN  CHALET  OF  TO-DAY 


Spring  Freres. 


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IN  THE  ENVIRONS  OF  GENEVA 


Spring  Freres. 


59 


AN  UNFINISHED  CHALET 


Spring  Frcres. 


A  CHALET  NEAR  THE  BASE  OF  THE  JURA 


Spring    Freres. 


60 


CHAPTER  IV 

Balcony  and   Gable   Construction;    Doors, 

Windows;   Some   Classic   and 

Modern   Chalets. 

THE  frame-work,  or  shell,  of  the  chalet  is  the  basis  of  the 
two  previous  chapters.     The  essential  structural  motives, 
together  with  a  reference  to  the  ornamentation  with  rela- 
tion to  the  construction,  and  the  analysis  of  actual  ex- 
amples, form  their  principal  subject  matter. 

It  is  doubtful  if  the  present  moment  could  be  improved  upon 
for  the  exposition  of  two  cardinal  features  of  chalet  design,  which 
are  in  themselves  structural,  and  yet  are  not  necessary  to  the  main 
construction,  being  really  "by-products"  of  it — the  balconies  and 
gables.  These  dominate  the  design  to  such  an  extent  that,  in  the 
case  of  the  former,  they  often  encircle  the  building,  and  in  the 
latter  instance  they  sweep  beyond  the  walls  at  the  front  a  distance 
of  ten  feet  or  more,  and  at  the  sides,  sometimes  down  to  within  a 
few  feet  of  the  ground.  Decoratively,  they  are  of  the  utmost  im- 
portance, because  of  the  depths  of  shade  and  shadow  which  they 
cause,  and  also  as  they  are  generally  chosen  as  the  points  for  the 
greatest  richness  and  intricacy  of  detail.  In  the  case  of  balconies, 
this  is  especially  true  of  the  wooden  "lace-work"  of  their  balus- 
trades and  the  graceful  rib-  and  bracket-work  of  their  under  por- 
tions. In  the  case  of  gables,  there  are  the  picturesque  curvings 
and  mouldings  of  their  great  consoles,  and  the  reflected  shadows 
of  these,  and  the  rib-work  of  the  gable's  under  portion.  The  A- 
shaped  gable  wall  and  its  treatment  with  relation  to  the  whole  de- 
sign are  dealt  with  in  Chapters  V  and  VI. 

A  common  starting  point  in  the  study  of  these  secondary 
structural  elements  is  essential.  If  we  suppose,  then,  that  a  floor- 
beam,  or  cross-wall  beam,  at  any  story  be  made  to  protrude  through 
the  outer  wall  a  few  feet,  we  will  have  the  basis  of  balcony  con- 
struction. Two  of  these  beams,  the  proper  distance  apart,  with 
boards  or  planks  laid  across  them,  are,  crudely,  a  balcony — minus 
the  means  of  protection  from  falling;  thus,  Fig.  15.     A  three-foot 

post  standing  on  each  outer  corner  form  the  points  of  support  for 

61 


62       BALCONY  AND   GABLE    CONSTRUCTION 

the  low  protecting  walls  along  the  front,  and  at  the  two  end  edges,, 
as  in  Fig.  16.  A  front  rail  and  two  end  rails,  connecting  the  tops 
of  the  posts  with  the  main  wall,  complete  the  protecting  frame; 
upright  boards,  placed  tightly,  edge  to  edge,  and  running  from 


FIG.    IS 


FIG.    I 6 


floor-edge  to  rail,  finish  the  enclosing  wall.  If,  for  the  sake  of  de- 
sign and  appearance,  as  well  as  construction,  a  greater  number  of 
beam-ends  and  a  much  longer  row  of  them  are  desired,  also  a 
lateral  beam  supporting  their  outer  ends,  itself  in  turn  supported 
by  diagonal  braces,  or  on  the  ends  of  consoles,  the  diagram  in  Fig. 
17  will  represent  the  result. 


fig.  19.     BALCONY  AT  VAREMBO 


fig.  18.  SECTION 
OF  BALCONY. 
GRINDELWALD 


EXAMPLE  OF  GABLE,   CANTON   GENEVA  Spring  Frcres. 


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WINDOW  SECTION  AND  DETAIL 


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DOOR  DETAIL       Graffcnricd  et  Sturler. 


63 


c"      <  '    '      '<  '       '    '      I  '  '    '  ' 


BRIENZ,  CANTON  BERNE. 

Varin's  "V Architecture  pittoresque   en  Suisse.' 


CHALET  AT  VAREMBO 


Spring  Freres. 


M 


BALCONY  AND    GABLE    CONSTRUCTION       65 

The  methods  of  decorating  and  moulding  all  parts  of  this 
structure  may  be  seen  in  the  accompanying  cuts  and  illustrations. 
In  Fig.  18  a  section  of  a  balcony  at  Grindelwald  is  given. 


fig.  20.  BRACKET  DETAIL,  CANTON  BERNE    fig.  21.  BALUSTRADE  AT  EBLINGEN 

Fig.  19  is  a  cut  of  a  balcony  at  Varembo.  It  will  be 
seen  that  all  beam-ends  are  moulded,  and  their  under  edges 
chamfered.  In  the  balustrade,  the  post  and  rail  frame- 
work form  a  panel  for  the  vertical  strips.  The  characteristic 
ornamentation  of  these  strips  by  means  of  perforations,  large 
and  small,  arranged  on  vertical  and  horizontal  axes,  also  their 
scooping  at  the  bottom,  and  the  capping  of  the  posts  at  the  top, 
speak  for  themselves.  The  brackets  are  the  projecting,  as  distin- 
guished from  the  brace,  form.  In  the  section  of  the  granary  at 
Golderen,  on  page  33,  which  was  spoken  of  in  detail  in  Chapter  II, 
the  section  of  the  balcony,  the  balustrade  and  consoles,  as  well  as 
the  corresponding  parts  of  the  gables,  are  clearly  shown.  Fig. 
20  is  a  form  of  bracket  which  occurs  almost  universally.  An  ex- 
ample of  a  balustrade  at  Eblingen  is  given  in  Fig  21. 

On  the  following  pages  will  be  seen  a  number  of  examples  of 
balcony  design  and  construction.  Of  these,  the  House  or  Sig- 
risten  on  page  69  offers  perhaps  the  best  example  of  balcony  con- 
struction, details  and  disposition.  To  begin  with,  the  constructive 
motive  of  the  walls  themselves  differs  with  what  we  have  already 
considered.  It  will  be  noted  that  at  the  building  corners  and  at 
the  points  where  interior  cross-walls  join  the  exterior  walls,  up- 
right beams  are  used;  interesting  sections  of  these  may  be  seen  at 
the  lower  left-hand  corner  of  the  plate.  According  to  these,  the 
horizontal  wall  beams  are  tongued  into  the  edges  of  the  uprights, 
and  the  exposed  interior  edges  of  the  latter  are  finished  by  a  round 


66       BALCONY  AND    GABLE    CONSTRUCTION 

chamfer  mould.  In  each  of  the  two  large  balcony  sections,  the 
supporting  balcony  beams  above  and  below  are  shown  joined  to 
the  heavy  wall  girts  at  the  middle  floor  and  roof  levels.  The 
moulding  of  their  under  ends  as  well  as  their  cutting  for  joining 
purposes  should  be  noted;  also  the  moulding  of  the  faces  of  the 
supporting  braces  beneath  them.  The  lower  balustrade  rail  is 
fitted  into  the  supporting  beam  ends,  both  top  faces  being  flush. 
The  balustrade  uprights  rest  on  top  of  the  beam  ends;  they  furnish 
in  their  outer  faces  the  support  for  the  hand-rail.  The  method  of 
joining  the  perforated  balustrade  boards  to  the  other  faces  of  the 
balcony  frame,  and  also  the  method  of  grooving  the  floor  boards 
into  the  same,  are  clearly  shown.  The  decorative  strip  at  the  bot- 
tom of  the  rail,  and  the  perforations  of  the  vertical  boarding  are 
of  interest. 

In  the  corner  view  of  the  house  at  St.  Peter  on  page  75,  a 
slightly  different  style  of  balcony  construction  is  shown.  The  pro- 
jecting beams  form  the  crowning  member  of  the  wall  consoles, 
being  moulded  to  suit.  In  other  respects  the  various  parts  of  the 
frame,  as  well  as  the  balustrade  uprights  show  great  similarity  to 
the  example  just  studied.  Interesting  comparisons  may  be  made 
between  these  and  the  examples  on  page  73. 


JUUL_ 

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fig.  23.     CONSOLE,  MONTREUX 


FIG.     24 


The  geometry  of  the  chalet  gable  may  be  seen  in  the  dia- 
gram, Fig.  22.  The  elemental  portions  thereof  may  be  seen  at  a 
glance.  A  B  C  J  K  L  represent  the  soffit;  J  K  L  D  E  F  repre- 
sent the  outline  of  the  gable  wall  proper;  the  portion  of  the 


BALCONY  AND    GABLE    CONSTRUCTION       67 

space  between  the  gable  wall  and  gable  soffit  is  that  occupied  by 
the  consoles.  As  an  example  of  a  gable  which  closely  corresponds 
to  the  diagram,  the  cut  below,  Fig.  22,  of  a  gable  in  Canton  Geneva, 
is  given.  Other  excellent  examples  may  be  seen  in  the  accom- 
panying plates.  Two  classic  examples  of  chalet  consoles  from 
Graffenried  and  Stiirler  are  given ;  also  window  and  door  details. 

Fig  23  shows  a  sketch  of  one  of  the  great  overhanging  con- 
soles at  Montreux  (projection  about  9  feet),  which  could  only  be 
obtained  by  lying  flat  on  one's  back  on  the  balcony  below  it.  Fig. 
24  is  an  entrance  door. 

In  passing,  it  may  be  proper  to  refer  to  the  recessed  balcony, 
or  alcove,  a  modern  substitute  for  the  overhanging  or  projecting 
balcony.  The  example  of  the  chalet  at  Varembo  is  very  char- 
acteristic, with  its  flat-arched  head  springing  from  corner  brackets. 
The  water  tables  over  the  other  windows,  supported  on  miniature 
brackets,  also  the  row  of  moulded  beam  ends  over  the  central 
double  window  are  most  characteristic  of  chalet  design.  The 
shutters,  also,  should  be  noted,  and  the  wall  carving  above  the 
row  of  beam-ends. 

A  valuable  study  of  the  chalet  skeleton  and  anatomy  is  given 
on  page  71.  The  wall  construction  is  of  the  same  class  as  that  of 
the  Sigristen  House  on  page  69,  that  is,  with  the  corner  and  inter- 
mediate uprights  joined  at  the  floor  levels  by  girts,  sills  and  plates, 
and  filled  in  with  horizontal  wall-beams.  It  will  be  noticed  that 
there  is  no  ridge-pole  but  that  the  roof-beams  are  supported  and 
secured  by  a  purlin-frame  construction,  all  exposed  inner  edges 
being  softened  by  chamfer  moulds.  No.  II  gives  a  section  through 
the  front  wall  at  the  window.  No.  Ill  is  a  section  through  the 
side  wall  showing  an  exterior  covering  of  vertical  boards,  with  an 
interior  shell  of  horizontal  wall-beams.  No.  IV  is  a  view  of  a 
shingle.  No.  V  is  an  under  view  of  a  section  of  the  roof.  No.  VI 
shows  details  of  the  window  opening.  No.  VII  is  a  horizontal 
section  of  the  same,  and  No.  VIII  a  vertical  section.  No.  IX  is 
a  horizontal  section  of  the  right  side  of  the  opening. 

The  plate  on  page  73  contains  some  useful  details.  The  mo- 
tive of  the  building  itself  is  simple,  though  the  decoration  is  a 
trifle  monotonous.  Of  the  details  below,  No.  1  is  a  section  of  the 
wall  mouldings  between  the  main  and  upper  story  windows.  No. 
2  is  a  section  of  mouldings  over  the  upper  story  windows.  No.  3  is 
an  unique  door  design.  No.  4  is  a  view  of  the  eaves  showing  con- 
soles supporting  at  their  ends  an  eave-board,  itself  in  turn  support- 
ing the  eave-ends  of  rafters.     No.  5  is  a  lettered  plan  of  the  main 


68       BALCONY  AND    GABLE    CONSTRUCTION 

floor.  No.  6  is  a  section  of  the  wall-moulding  of  the  side  wall. 
No.  7  is  a  view  of  a  side  eave  console.  Nos.  8,  9  and  10,  are 
various  other  designs  of  consoles. 

The  two  old  examples  on  page  74  are  very  simple  in  design 
and  ornament. 

Two  examples  of  a  heavy  type  of  gable  and  console  construc- 
tion are  given  on  page  57;  also  a  console  elevation.  Page  58  gives 
partial  views  of  five  chalets  of  the  most  attractive  Bernese  type,  and 
most  picturesquely  arranged.  The  balcony  and  gable  designs,  as 
well  as  the  wall  ornamentation  and  window  grouping,  are  most 
happy  in  character.  On  pages  59  and  60  are  given  four  examples 
of  present-day  chalets  by  Spring  Freres  of  Geneva.  Two  points 
of  significance  are  the  lightness  of  the  structures,  and  the  general 
use  of  white,  or  light-tinted,  cement-faced  walls. 

The  chalet  on  page  75  is  a  modern  example,  noticeable  for 
the  use  of  a  great  many  curves  in  the  consoles  and  the  heads  of 
balcony  openings. 


\Jt — ? 


HOUSE  OF  SIGRISTEN,  MARBACH 

Gladbach's   "Der   Schweizer  Holzstyl; 


69 


71 


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feri. 


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HOSPITAL  AT  FRUTIGEN,  CANTON  BERNE 

Gladbach's  "Characteristische  Holzbauten  der  Schweis. 


73 


74 


CORNER  VIEW  Ol 

HOUSE,     ST.     PETER 


\7. 

17' 

Swan  House,   Lucerne. 

DETAILS  OF  HOUSE  AT  GOLDEREN 

Graff enried   et  Stiirler. 


76 


CHAPTER  V 

The  Chalet   Facade;  Window  Disposition; 
Plans  and  Elevations. 

THE  anatomy  of  the  chalet  husk  having  been  carefully 
studied  it  would  seem  that  an  investigation  of  its  facial 
characteristics  might  well  claim  our  attention  at  this 
point. 

The  chalet  face — or  facade — is  the  universal  fagade.  Its 
sine  qua  non  is  a  square — a  square  sheet  of  wood  or  other  material, 
in  upright  position,  as  in  Fig.  25.  The  two  encircling  frames  at 
top  and  bottom  are  indicated,  each  announcing  the  front  edge  of 
a  floor;  the  axis  of  symmetry  is  also  given. 

But  another  element  of  equal  importance  in  its  effect  on  the 
design  of  the  chalet  fagade  is  the  outside  "ridged  floor"  (roof) 
whose  front  edge,  instead  of  being  a  continuous  member,  as  in  the 
girt  frame,  is  raised  at  its  middle  point  to  form  the  two  sloping 
sides  of  a  shallow  isosceles  triangle,  as  in  Fig.  26.  The  protect- 
ive effect  of  these  outer  sloping  surfaces  on  the  exposed  wall  faces, 
alike  from  storm  and  sunlight,  when  they  are  made  to  extend  out- 
ward in  wide  brims,  has  already  been  set  forth;  its  effect  on  the 
design  is  that  of  a  broad,  generous  hat  brim,  shading  an  attractive 
face. 

The  essential  features  in  the  design  of  the  facade,  then,  are  as 
indicated  in  Fig.  26.  The  surface  between  sill  and  roof  may  be 
increased  by  the  addition  of  one  or  more  stories,  or  carried  below 
the  sill  in  masonry  to  the  ground. 

The  texture  of  the  wall  surface  is  that  given  by  tiers  of  hor- 
izontal beams  of  a  deep  glowing  tan  color,  with  their  upper  edge 
beveled  to  shed  off  the  weather. 

A  point  of  the  greatest  importance  in  the  design  of  the  fagade 
is,  naturally,  that  of  the  openings  and  their  disposition.  As  the 
question  of  chalet  wall  penetrations  is  subject  to  the  universal  law 
which  governs  in  all  fagades,  a  graphical  representation  of  them 
may  be  made,  as  in  the  diagram  in  Fig.  27,  in  which  the  evolution 
from  a  blank  wall  to  one  with  many  perforations  is  shown.     The 

77 


78 


THE    CHALET  FACADE 


large  square  is  divided  into  four  smaller  squares,  and  these  again 
subdivided  into  four  equal  squares.  In  the  first  group,  i,  2,  3, 
4,  the  central  treatment  is  indicated  in  which  a  single  window  or 
group  of  windows  is  centered  on  the  axis  of  symmetry.  In  the  sec- 
ond group,  5,  6,  7,  8,  the  double  treatment  is  indicated,  in  which 
the  space  on  either  side  of  the  axis  is  occupied  by  an  opening. 
The  next  division  is  a  combination  of  triple,  quadruple  and  quin- 
tuple treatment,  while  the  last  shows  the  application  of  the  fore- 
going to  superimposed  stories. 


1 
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FIG.    27 


The  swan  houses  at  Lucerne  are  submitted  as  an  example  of 
the  simplest  case,  on  page  76,  No.  2.  In  the  house  at  Gold- 
eren,  on  page  76,  examples  of  3,  4  and  8  are  to  be 
seen.  The  fagade  of  the  Chalet  Matti  at  Interlaken,  given  on 
page  79,  which  faces  up  the  valley  of  the  Jungf rau,  made  famous 
in  Heine's  poem  of  the  Lorelei,  has  in  each  story  a  different  group- 
ing, the  bottom  being  the  quadruple  treatment,  the  first  story  con- 
taining two  groups  of  double  windows  each,  the  next  story  having 
a  triple  treatment,  with  a  double  window  in  the  middle  and  a 
single  on  either  side,  while  the  roof  story  has  the  usual  double 
treatment  of  small  single  windows.  The  Chalet  at  Grilly  on  page 
81  shows  a  still  greater  complexity  of  groupings,  beginning  with 
the  double  treatment  in  the  main  story,  with  a  quintuple  group  on 
the  right;  the  next  floor  shows  a  variation  of  7;  above  this  is  a  triple 
treatment  with  a  quadruple  group  in  the  centre  and  a  single  small 
opening  on  either  side. 

Practically  all  the  windows  show  wooden  shutters  composed 
simply  of  two  boards  cleated  at  top  and  bottom  and  perforated 
near  the  top  by  a  single  lozenge — or  heart-shaped  opening.    They 


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CHALET  MATTI  AT  INTERLAKEN 
79 


Attic  Plan. 
Parquet   6-   Chalet  Fabrik. 


8o 


THE    CHALET   FACADE 


are  colored  a  bright  green,  though  lately  a  light  buff  has  come 
greatly  into  favor.  In  the  example  at  Golderen,  vertical  and 
horizontal  shutters  with  exterior  runways  are  shown.  The  win- 
dow sash  are  casement,  and,  as  a  rule,  open  in.  A  sparkling  effect 
is  given  them  by  dividing  the  upper  portion  into  small  squares  of 
glass  by  sash  bars.  At  Golderen,  again,  the  round  pane  effect  is 
gotten  by  means  of  "bull's-eyes."  The  window  frame,  or  casing, 
is  frequently  very  similar  to  that  of  the  American  frame  house, 
though  with  the  uprights  passing  beyond  the  cross-pieces.  The 
examples  on  pages  82  to  86,  show  a  development  in  roof-treat- 
ment, and  the  effect  of  striking  contrasts  between  cement  and  wood 
walls. 


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A  BERNESE  CHALET 


BERNESE  CHALET,  SHOWN  IN  DETAIL  ABOVE 

Sulgerbach   Chalet  Fabrik. 


86 


CHAPTER  VI 

The  Chalet  Facade;  System  of 
Ornamentation. 

THE  chalet  facade  is  something  more  than  a  wall  surface 
punctured  with  openings.  It  is  something  more,  even, 
than  a  collection  of  pine  trees  squared  and  planed,  rising 
in  a  tier  to  the  top  of  a  peaked  wall.  It  is  an  apparition ; 
a  picture.  On  the  surface  of  this  tan-colored  sheet,  is  superimposed 
a  pattern  of  indentations  and  projections,  as  well  as  figures  in  paint. 
Across  the  spaces  of  the  wall  openings  are  spread  sheets  of  glass 
in  metal,  lead  or  wood  frames ;  narrow  square  shafts  of  wood  find 
their  way,  like  pilasters,  up  the  wall's  face,  spreading  forth 
vigorously  and  gracefully  at  the  top  to  receive  the  sweep  of  the 
gable  brim. 

The  chief  influence  in  the  determining  of  the  composition  of 
this  ornamental  fabric  is  gravitation.  It  is  this  which  dictates  the 
horizontal  joints  and  vertical  edges,  and  through  them  their  lines 
and  bodies  of  ornament.  An  evolutionary  series  of  fagades  is 
given  on  page  88  as  a  help  to  a  ready  understanding  of  this  general 
subject.  Read  from  i  to  10  consecutively;  they  sufficiently  ex- 
plain themselves,  No.  i  being  the  simple  wall  outline,  which  must 
of  necessity  be  the  basis  of  any  system  of  ornament.  The  first  ad- 
ditional line  of  importance  that  appears  is  shown  in  No.  2,  that 
separating  the  foundation  from  the  superstructure;  in  No.  3  the 
different  textures  of  these  parts  are  indicated;  in  No.  4  the  line 
of  the  window  sill  course  is  added,  thus  forming  a  double  line, 
or  band,  upon  which  is  worked  a  strip  of  "embroidery,"  or  carved 
ornament;  in  No.  5  a  second  band  is  shown;  probably  the  next 
step  in  the  development  of  the  ornamental  system  is  the  vertical 
connecting  band  in  No.  6;  in  No.  7  a  completed  outline  is  given, 
which  in  No.  8  is  still  further  developed  and  divided  into  narrow 
horizontal  strips,  representing,  in  one  case,  plain  joints,  in  an- 
other, strings  of  ornament.  No.  9  shows  an  additional  number  of 
openings  subdivided  by  vertical  members.  No.  10  shows  the  sub- 
divided openings  enclosed  by  window  sash,  the  pilasters,  con- 
soles, and  overhanging  eaves  being  also  indicated. 

87 


I  ,  ■ 


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B  . 

AN  EVOLUTIONARY  SERIES  OF  FACADES 


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INN  AT  TREIB,  LAKE  LUCERNE 

Gladbach's  "Lharacteristische  Holsbauten   der  Schweiz." 


AN  AFTERNOON  VIEW  TO-DAY 


9i 


CHALET   AT   1SELTWALD,  CANTON  BERNE 

I'arin's   "I'Archi  ecture  [>it:cre.-qtte   en   Susse' 


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CHALET  AT  YSCH,  NEAR   ISELTWALD  J 

Graffenried    et    Stiirler's    "Architecture    Suisse. 

92 


SYSTEM   OF   ORNAMENTATION 


93 


It  is  this  framework  or  pattern,  to  which  is  applied  the  mesh 
of  ornament,  composed  of  strips,  and  bands,  and  ribbons,  of 
"wooden  lace" — broad  bands,  as  in  the  case  of  the  older  and  more 
classic  examples,  filling  the  entire  space  between  the  successive 
rows  of  windows ;  similar  bands,  but  with  the  middle  portion  plain, 
and  with  the  decoration  applied  only  to  the  top  and  bottom  (cor- 
responding to  the  window  sill  and  floor)  edges,  as  in  Fig.  28;  or 
only  the  upper  edge  may  be  decorated,  as  in  the  example  at 
Diemtigen,  Fig.  29. 


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FIG.    28 


fig.  29.     SPANDREL,  DIEMTIGEN 


Other  broad  bands  (horizontal)  of  ornament  are  the  balcony 
balustrades,  and,  in  a  slighter  degree  and  much  less  frequently,  a 
narrow  strip  of  roof.  Fig.  30  shows  a  frieze  at  Iseltwald  bounded 
top  and  bottom  by  mouldings,  and  with  ornament  in  the  upper 
half.  Below  this  is  another  characteristic  horizontal  feature,  a 
text,  in  German.  Still  other  horizontal  strips,  or  courses,  of  orna- 
ment are  to  be  seen  in  the  accompanying  illustrations,  especially 
the  rows  of  moulded  beam-ends;  the  many  groups  of  narrow, 
horizontal  "ribbons"  of  shade  and  shadow  caused  by  the  grooves 
or  bevels  of  the  wall-beam  edges  are  an  appreciable  element  in 
the  decoration.  Window  boxes  and  shelves,  window  and  door 
sills  and  hoods,  and  also,  often,  long  groups  of  windows,  are  im- 
portant horizontal  features.  Rows  of  brilliantly  colored  flower- 
ing plants  and  gaily  striped  awnings  add  a  life  and  joyousness  to 
many  chalets,  especially  among  the  more  modern. 


94 


SYSTEM   OF   ORNAMENTATION 


The  vertical  strips  of  ornament  are  necessarily  less  in  num- 
ber and  of  no  great  width.  They  consist  of  rows  of  superimposed 
beam-ends,  with  their  joints  beveled  and  their  edges  scooped; 
also  of  window  muntins  and  shutters. 

In  the  plate  of  chalet  details  on  page  89  good  ornamental 
units  may  be  seen,  also  the  composition  of  horizontal  bands  of 
ornament.  A  great  deal  of  the  character  of  these  bands  is  due  to 
the  greater  or  less  projection  of  their  upper  or  lower  members. 
At  Rossiniere,  page  98,  one  end  of  the  lower  band  projects  into  a 
balcony;  the  same  band  at  Ysch,  page  92,  becomes  at  its  extreme 
ends  a  balcony  leading  by  stairs  to  the  ground.  In  many  of  the 
modern  examples  of  this  book  either  lower  or  upper  bands  have 
projected  to  form  balconies  throughout  their  length  and  even  com- 
pletely around  the  structure;  or  they  may  extend  to  form  simply 
the  end  of  a  side  balcony.  In  modern  examples,  in  most  instances, 
only  the  upper  or  lower  portion  of  the  horizontal  band  is  retained. 
The  plate  of  valuable  details,  dating  from  1600  to  1800,  given 
on  page  89,  is  worth  some  special  study.  In  the  centre  are  the 
miniature  elevation  and  section  of  a  chalet,  and  below,  an  enlarged 
elevation  of  the  porch  corner  of  the  same;  below  this  again,  No.  3, 
are  enlargements  and  variations  of  the  floral  scroll  motive  in  color. 
The  geometry  of  the  porch  post  is  given  in  No.  4.  No.  6 
shows,  above,  a  section  of  an  interior  beamed  ceiling;  below,  an 
interior  frieze  and  cornice.  Nos.  5,  7,  8,  and  9  are  various  inter- 
esting wall  carvings  dating  from  1731  to  1796.  No.  10  is  an  un- 
usual example  of  a  high  balcony  or  porch  roof,  supported  on  a  row 
of  posts  running  up  from  the  ground.     The  particular  part  of  the 

-j- . -j    porch  shown  is  where  the 

stairs  ascend  to  an  upper  en- 
trance floor,  under  which 
again  is  a  wide  entrance  to 
the  earth  story.  Nos.  1 1  to 
14  are  valuable  examples  of 
beam-end  carving  to  form 
consoles,  and  beam  edge 
and  face  carving  to  form 
various  other  characteristic 
Swiss  figures  of  the  years 
1600  to  1700. 

On  the  plate  of  ornamen- 
tal wall  details  on  page  90, 
six  examples  may  be  seen  in 


A  BERNESE  CHALET 
95 


96 


97 


98 


SYSTEM   OF   ORNAMENTATION 


99 


which  variations  of  modillion  and  dentil  courses  and  scroll  mo- 
tives prevail.  Nearly  all  the  windows  have  bull's-eye  glass,  and 
the  doors  are  interestingly  marked  with  apertures  artistically  de- 
signed. 

The  ornamentation  and  decoration,  then,  of  the  chalet  facade, 
next  to  the  color  and  texture  of  the  wood  (or  masonry)  itself,  is 
found  to  be  dependent  upon  horizontal  and  vertical  surfaces  pro- 
jecting or  receding,  organized,  in  some  cases,  into  a  broad  belt  of 
light  and  shade  harmony;  in  others,  as  delicate  ribbons  of  lace- 
work.  That  is,  its  ground-work  is  the  moulding,  to  which  is  ap- 
plied the  arrangement  of  "knobs"  of  equal  size,  placed  in  rows, 
with  equal-sized  "voids"  between;  the  "knobs"  may  be  anything 
in  shape  from  the  heart,  lozenge,  or  star-shape,  to  the  dentil  and 
modillion,  in  a  multitude  of  varying  forms ;  the  void,  too,  may  be 
complete,  or  it  may  serve  as  a  more  or  less  defined  link  between 
adjacent  "knobs,"  or  projections.  In  the  two  examples  of  flat 
ornament  in  Fig.  30,  examples  of  this  alternation  of  projection  and 
void  may  be  seen  in  the  undulating  curve  of  the  scroll  and  the  al- 
ternating rosettes  and  coves  in  the  upper  example.  The  same  con- 
dition is  to  be  seen  in  Fig.  29  in  the  wavy  curve  at  the  bottom;  just 
above  this  curve  is  a  row  in  which  the  knobs  are  moulded  dentils 
of  equal  size,  separated  by  equal  rectangular  voids.  In  the  course 
above  this  the  voids  are  semicircular.  The  ornament  over  the 
windows  in  Fig.  28  closely  resembles  this  latter;  the  strip  at  the 
top  resembles  that  in  Fig.  30.  In  the  examples  of  chalets,  which 
are  given,  as  in  the  Chalet  Matti  and  in  Figure  29,  the  ornament 


CEILING  CORNER  CONSTRUCTION 

Gladbach's  "Der  Schweizer  Holzstyl: 


100 


SYSTEM   OF   ORNAMENTATION 


can  plainly  be  referred  to  these  two  classes.  The  fagades  on  pages 
91  to  98,  are  perhaps  the  noblest  examples  of  the  classic  chalet  in 
existence  and  are  rich  in  all  that  has  made  the  Swiss  chalet  of  such 
significance  in  the  world  of  architecture.  They  are  worth  the  most 
careful  and  painstaking  study. 


UL 


1     1   -«- 


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PLAN OF  CHALET  BERNARDINA  NEAR  VEVEY 

Parquet  &   Chalet  Fabrtk. 


CHAPTER  VII 

The   Chalet   Interior;    Planning;    Plans 
and    Elevations. 

THE  proportioning  of  the  chalet  interior  is  borne  out  by  its 
exterior  outline  and  proportioning.  To  turn  from  the 
study  of  the  exterior  to  the  interior,  we  realize  how  true 
the  chalet  construction  is,  for  the  four  walls  running 
from  excavation  to  roof  line  and  capped  by  a  shallow  double 
pitched  roof,  make  the  true  enclosure.  There  is  no  false  frame 
work,  hidden  construction  or  lost  space.  The  space  included  is 
generally  partitioned  off  by  one  or  more  cross-walls  locking  to- 
gether one  of  the  pairs  of  enclosing  walls,  as  in  Fig.  31. 

The  natural  (tripartite)  vertical  division  of  the  interior,  like 
that  for  all  dwelling  interiors — that  is,  the  earth  portion;  its  other 
extreme,  the  roof:  and,  thirdly,  the  space  between  them — deter- 
mines the  character  of  the  employment  to  which  these  portions  are 
to  be  assigned.  When  these  natural  divisions  are  more  definitely 
marked  and  determined  by  floors,  the  structural  interior  becomes 
still  more  affected,  as  in  Fig.  32.  The  assignment  of  stories  cor- 
responds closely  to  that  in  America;  that  is,  the  cellar  (Kellar, 
cave)  is  given  the  storage,  heating  and  rough  work;  the  first  floor 
[rez-de-chaussez,  Parterre)  is  given  the  business  of  the  daily 
life,  the  social  business,  and  the  like;  the  second  floor 
(premiere  etage,  erste  Stock)  is  devoted  to  sleeping  chambers; 
and  the  roof  story  (Dach  Stock,  comble)  is  given  up  to  retirement, 
storage,  etc. 

The  resultant  "compartmented"  structure  must  be  next  pro- 
vided with  a  means  of  connection  between  the  interior  and  the 
outer  world,  at  a  point  near  the  ground;  likewise,  similar  means 
of  communication  between  the  stories  and  the  entrance.  In  the 
Swiss  chalet,  this  system  of  communication,  or  circulation,  is 
placed  at  one  of  the  rear  corners,  the  entrance  being  generally  at 
the  side,  though  occasionally  at  the  rear — almost  never  at  the 
front. 

The  characteristic  assignment  of  the  rear  half  of  the  main 
floor  is  to  entrance,  hall,  stairs  (up  and  down),  toilet,  and  kitchen; 
the  other  half  is  assigned  to  reception  and  dining-rooms. 

IOI 


102 


THE  CHALET  INTERIOR 


A  scientific  basis  for  the  study  of  the  various  floor  plans  can- 
not fail  to  be  of  assistance;  for  that  purpose  the  following  dia- 
gram, Fig.  33,  is  presented.     A  square  about  2  inches  on  a  side 


1 

1. 

5 

€ 

A 

X 

A 

7 

^ 

C 

<=> 

B 

8 

D 
10 


FIG.    32 


FIG.    33 


is  divided  into  four  squares,  A,  B,  C,  D;  A  is  divided  again  into 
four  squares,  and  B  likewise;  these  eight  smaller  squares  and  the 
two  larger  ones,  C  and  D,  are  to  be  considered  as  miniature  floor 
plans,  being  divided  progressively  and  logically  from  1  to  10. 
These  ten  may  serve  as  types  to  which  may  be  referred  any  of 
the  chalet  plans  which  are  given  on  the  succeeding  pages. 

An  example  of  1  may  be  seen  in  the  plan  of  the  summer  house 
on  page  46;  this  plan,  with  its  porch,  is  an  example  of  2.  A  num- 
ber of  examples,  or  slight  modifications  thereof,  of  4,  5,  6,  7,  may 
be  noted. 

We  could  hardly  do  better  at  this  point,  to  show  the  results 
of  these  investigations  of  the  elemental  rules  for  chalet  interior  dis- 
position and  floor  planning,  than  to  present  the  four  floor  arrange- 
ments of  an  actual  chalet.  This  is  made  possible  to  a  most  gratify- 
ing degree,  through  the  courtesy  of  Spring  Freres  of  Geneva,  Swit- 
zerland, whose  plans  for  the  chalet  of  M.  Chatelanat,  at  Lausanne, 
we  are  thus  able  to  present,  on  pages  106  and  107. 

The  disposition  of  the  plan  is  a  little  unusual  in  that  the  long 
side  faces  the  front.  It  will  be  seen  that  the  "husk"  at  the  earth 
story  (from  cellar  bottom  to  under  side  of  main  floor)  is  of  stone 
50  centimeters  thick,  or  a  trifle  less  than  20  inches;  at  the  main 
story  it  is  of  stone  a  foot  thick,  and  at  the  upper  story,  and  roof 
story,  between  4^  inches  and  5  inches.  The  cross-wall  running 
from  left  to  right,  from  cellar  to  roof,  is  approximately  8  inches 


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CHALET  GIRAUD  AT  VARESE 
103 


Parquet   &   Chalet  Fabrik. 


PERSPECTTVK  AND  PLANS  OK  A  SMALL  CHALET 

Parquet   &    Chalet   Fabrik. 


104 


Front  Elevation 


|_.^*1_ 


Main  Story  Plan 
CHALET  AT  GENEVA 


Ody  &  Co. 


105 


First  Story  Plan 


Cellar  Plan 
PLANS  OF  CHALET  OF  M.  CHATELANAT  AT  LAUSANNE 


Spring  Frdres. 


106 


Attic  Story  Plan 


—I  I   •   I  I  I  i 


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Second  Story  Plan 
PLANS  OF  CHALET  OF  M.  CHATELANAT  AT  LAUSANNE 


Spring   Frirts. 


107 


Front  Elevation 


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CHALET  DESIGN 

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Parquet   &   Chalet  Fabrik. 


109 


Ceilar    Plan 


CHALET   WEBER   IN   BULACH 

Parquet  &■  Chalet  Fabrik. 


THE  CHALET  INTERIOR  in 

thick  at  the  earth  story,  6  inches  in  the  main  story,  and  4  inches 
in  the  remaining  stories.  The  floor  plans,  as  a  result  of  this  cross- 
wall,  are  brought  under  classes  3,  4  and  5  of  our  diagram,  Fig.  33, 
though  No.  4  practically  covers  the  case,  each  floor  being  divided 
into  four  corner  spaces,  or  rooms.  The  communication  between 
the  four  floors,  or  stories,  and  the  entrance  way,  is  provided  for  in 
one  corner  of  the  plans,  the  stairs  occupying  the  extreme  corner, 
and  the  communicating  hallways  the  remaining  portion  of  this  sec- 
tion; the  main  point  of  entry  is  at  the  center  of  the  right-hand 
wall.     A  secondary  entrance  is  into  the  kitchen  at  the  rear. 

The  division  of  the  front  half'  of  the  interior  is  maintained 
upward  through  three  stories,  thus  providing  for  its  double  treat- 
ment, and  the  double  treatment  of  its  facade.  At  the  top,  this  be- 
comes triple,  with  a  large  guest  chamber  at  the  center  and  a  nar- 
row storeroom  at  either  side.  The  main  balcony  is  at  the  bed- 
room floor  and  encircles  the  building,  except  at  the  rear;  it  comes 
well  within  the  protecting  line  of  the  gable  at  the  front  and  the 
eaves  at  the  sides.  The  balcony  is  supported  on  posts  and  brackets 
at  the  right  wall,  and  by  brackets  at  the  other  two  walls.  The 
balcony  at  the  front  of  the  roof  story  is  supported  by  posts  from 
the  story  below.  The  only  remaining  external  structure  is  that 
of  the  entrance  porch  steps  at  the  right-side  wall. 

The  plumbing  and  heating  systems  are  located  at  the  middle 
of  the  rear  wall  next  to  the  kitchen  and  furnace  chimney,  with  cir- 
culation to  the  right  and  front  of  them.  The  near  portion  of  the 
stairwell  in  the  two  upper  stories  becomes  closet  and  storeroom 
space. 

Unique  features  of  the  main  floor  are  the  window  and  wall 
seat,  and  table,  at  the  inner  corner  of  the  hall;  the  toilet,  and  in 
the  extreme  left-hand  corner,  the  debarras,  or  closet,  and  "office." 
The  only  objection  to  this  arrangement  would  seem  to  be  that  the 
kitchen  is  not  allowed  sufficient  lighting.  The  bedroom  floor 
offers  no  unusual  features,  except,  perhaps,  the  absence  of  closets, 
their  place  being  taken  by  wardrobes;  the  presence  of  square 
cabinets  at  the  head  of  each  bed  is  characteristic  of  all  continental 
bedrooms.  The  communication  of  the  three  bedrooms  with  the 
balcony  is  by  casement  doors,  as  indicated.  In  the  roof  story,  the 
servant's  room  is  shown  at  the  rear. 

On  pages  103  and  104  are  shown  some  very  simple  plans.  On 
pages  105,  108  and  109  are  plans  with  a  very  pleasing  disposition 
of  rooms.  On  page  1 10  the  plan  shows  an  allotment  of  floor  space 
which  is  very  simple. 


Front  Elevation 


e 


t 


Main  Story  Plan 

CHALET,  CANTON  GENEVA 

113 


Ody  &  Co. 


CHAPTER  VIII 

The  Chalet  Interior;  Interior   Decorations; 

Furniture. 

SEEN  from  the  railway,  or  mountain  road,  or  looked  at  up 
some  long  ravine,  or  from  a  village  street,  the  Swiss  chalet 
exterior  announces,  more  or  less  illuminatingly,  its  inner 
adjustment.  In  the  original  chalet  the  four  exterior  walls, 
"turned  outside  in,"  would  represent  accurately  the  four  enclos- 
ing surfaces. 

A  chalet  of  one  room  best  exemplifies  this  intimate  corre- 
spondence. Each  of  its  walls  is  the  same  row  of  horizontal  courses 
on  its  inner  face  as  it  is  without;  each  is  the  same  tier  of  hori- 
zontal beams  when  looked  at  from  the  floor  as  when  seen  from 
the  outside.  Each  member  of  a  pair  of  opposite  walls  is  the  ex- 
act counterpart  of  the  other,  the  openings  excepted;  and  the  two 
pairs  of  enclosing  walls,  from  the  interior,  are  still  the  strong- 
grained  beams  of  pine,  as  on  the  exterior,  still  reddish  brown  in 
hue,  minus  the  bevelled  edges  of  the  outside,  and  with  surfaces 
brought  to  the  smoothness  of  cut  stone. 

When  the  room  space  extends  to  the  roof,  the  effect  is  es- 
sentially the  same  as  in  similar  arrangements  in  our  own  dwellings. 
An  intercepting  ceiling  is  generally  constructed  of  wide  tongued- 
and-grooved  planks,  alternately  heavy  and  light,  with  their  ends 
housed  into  the  groove  in  the  inner  face  of  the  roof-plate,  and 
form,  with  their  edges  moulded,  a  series  of  narrow  panels.  The 
under  edge  of  the  roof  plate  is  frequently  moulded  as  the  illustra- 
tion on  page  99  will  show.  The  projecting  sill  at  the  bottom 
is  plain,  and  forms  with  the  plate  the  basis  for  a  system  of  vertical 
wall  division. 

The  ceiling  planks  usually  run  in  the  direction  of  the  build- 
ing's length,  with  a  cross-beam  for  their  support  at  the  middle, 
which  thus  divides  the  ceiling  into  two  large  panels.  If  the  sup- 
porting cross-beam  is  in  turn  supported  on  a  partition  from  the 
floor  below,  its  beams  correspond  exactly  in  size  and  location  with 
the  walls  with  which  it  is  parallel. 

"3 


ii4  INTERIOR  DECORATIONS 

A  later  development,  decoratively,  of  the  interior,  is  the  ex- 
tending of  the  panel  motive  of  the  ceiling  to  the  wall-surfaces, 
sheets  of  wood  panelling  being  applied,  screen-like,  to  them,  leav- 
ing an  air-space  of  an  inch  or  two  for  insulation.  When  this  same 
motive  appears  in  the  face  of  the  floor,  it  is  in  the  form  of  par- 
quetry squares,  this  being  a  finish  for  which  Switzerland  is  famous ; 
a  few  examples  from  the  Sulgerbach  fabrique  at  iBerne  are  given 
on  page  119.  Plaster,  in  the  modern  chalet,  is  in  common  use  on 
interior  walls.  In  the  ceiling,  the  panelling  becomes  in  the  more 
classic  examples  deep  open-beam  work,  and  reaches  its  highest  de- 
velopment in  the  richly  coffered  ceilings  of  the  more  regal  salons. 

Altmatt,  near  the  Lake  of  Lucerne,  contains  a  charming  little 
example  of  a  typical  chalet,  embodying,  in  simple  form,  the  basic 
elements  of  chalet  interiors.  The  section  on  page  115  shows  ex- 
amples both  of  the  interior  horizontal  beam  courses,  which  occur 
in  the  kitchen,  and  the  vertical  panels  in  plaster  in  the  living  room. 
The  typical  corner  dining  table  is  also  shown  well  surrounded  by 
its  wall  seat.  Other  features  to  be  noted  are  the  characteristic 
cupboard,  the  mullioned  window  of  semi-opaque  bull's-eye  glass, 
and  the  design  of  the  entrance  doorway  with  its  small  barred  open- 
ing. 

Brienz,  that  superbly  beautiful  lake-land  of  central  Switzer- 
land, has  still  another  fine  specimen  to  offer  in  the  chalet  of  Jus- 
tice Huber,  at  Meiringen.  The  sections  of  this,  given  on  page  116 
indicate  simple  interiors  of  horizontal  beam  courses.  These  views 
are  dominated  by  the  great  wooden  chimney,  made  of  beams  placed 
horizontally;  it  opens  in  a  wide  hood  at  the  bottom,  and  at  the 
top  is  covered  by  a  wooden  lid,  controlled  by  a  chain  leading  to 
the  kitchen.  A  detail  showing  the  construction  at  the  base  is 
given  in  the  lower  corner;  beside  it  is  a  floor  construction  detail. 
Other  noteworthy  features  are  the  generous  corner  wall-seat  and 
dining  table,  and  the  overlapping  door  casings.  A  few  miles 
south  of  Lake  Lucerne  in  the  "High  House"  of  Wolfenschiessen, 
sections  of  which  are  given  on  page  117,  very  interesting  examples 
of  wall  panelling  may  be  seen:  these  in  the  vaulted  ceiling  in  the 
upper  hall  become  a  pattern  of  shallow  coffering.  A  free  use  of 
semi-opaque  glazing  is  seen  in  the  many  bull's-eye  windows,  which 
indicate  a  decided  leaning  toward  the  picturesque  in  glass. 

Views  of  interest  at  this  point  are  given,  reproduced  from 
the  "lournal  of  Swiss  Engineers  and  Architects."  The  first  on 
page  148,  shows  an  example  of  panelling  in  an  old  house  at  Altdorf 
( 1668),  followed  by  an  example  of  interior  stairs. 


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DWELLING  HOUSE  AT  ALTMATT,  CANTON  SCHWYZ 

Gladbacli's  "Der  Schwciscr  Holsstyl.' 


"5 


RESIDENCE  OF  JUSTICE  OF  THE  PEACE  HUBER,  MEIRINGEN 

Glad  bach's  "Der  Schweiser  Holsstyi: 


116 


"HIGH  HOUSE"  AT  WOLFENSCHIESSEN 

Gladbach's  "Der  Schweizer  Holsstyl." 


117 


DWELLING  HOUSES   IN   CANTON   SCHWYZ 

Gladbach's  "Dcr  Schweiser  Holsstyl." 


118 


EXAMPLES  OF  PARQUETRY 
119 


Sulgerbach  Fabrik,  Berne. 


Combination  Section   and   Front   Elevation 


Main  Story  Plan 
DWELLING  HOUSE  AT   ST.   PETER,   GRAUBUNDEN 

Gladbach's  " Characteristische  Holsbauten  der  Schweis.' 


INTERIOR  DECORATIONS  121 

A  most  distinctive  feature  and  fixture  of  the  chalet  interior, 
and  one  upon  which  depends,  as  much  as  any  other,  the  comfort 
and  hygiene,  as  well  as  the  architectural  effect,  is  the  great  tile 
heater.  Like  the  radiator  system  (chauffage  centrale)  which  is 
now  being  extensively  used,  this  monumental  feature  is  always 
located  at  the  center  of  the  story,  adjacent  to  the  kitchen,  and  con- 
nects with  the  central  chimney.  A  number  of  designs  are  shown 
in  the  views  on  page  149. 

A  sheet  of  furniture  details  on  page  123  gives  in  a  compre- 
hensive way  the  typical  examples  seen  in  chalet  interiors,  from  the 
infant's  chair  and  cradle  up  to  the  table.  Edges,  as  a  rule,  are 
treated  floridly;  there  is  much  carved  work,  and  turned  chair 
and  table  legs  abound. 

In  the  section  of  a  dwelling  house  at  St.  Peter,  on  page  120 
a  tile  stove  is  shown.  Details  of  a  salon  in  Canton  Schwyz  are 
given  on  page  124.  They  include  a  beautiful  example  of  orna- 
mental woodwork,  in  the  elevation  of  the  buffet  or  sideboard  on 
the  left,  examples  of  floor  parquetry  at  the  top,  and  of  ceiling 
panelling  below.  On  page  125  an  exquisite  example  of  carved 
and  inlaid  work  is  given  in  the  buffet  at  Wattwyl. 

A  handsome  salon  interior  in  Canton  Schwyz  is  to  be  seen 
on  page  126.  Among  the  features  worthy  of  note  are  the  built- 
in  sideboards,  the  handsome  inlaid  door,  deeply  recessed  windows 
with  window  seats,  leaded  window  glass,  large  parquetry  squares 
in  the  floor,  and  correspondingly  large  sunken  panels  above  in  the 
ceiling.  These  latter  we  have  met  in  less  pretentious  dwellings, 
as  beamed  ceilings.  In  the  simpler  floors,  the  parquetry  occurred 
greatly  diminished  in  scale,  and  the  walls  as  simple  vertical  wooden 
panels,  and  tiers  of  horizontal  beams. 


123 


DETAILS    OF    SALONS    IN    CANTON    SCHWYZ 

Gladbach's  " Ch.aracteristische  Holzbauten   der  Schweis.' 


'24 


125 


126 


CHAPTER  IX 

Adaptations   of   the  Swiss  Chalet  in  Other 
Countries;   American   Adaptations. 

THE  Swiss  Chalet  to-day  is  to  be  found  scattered  here 
and  there  all  over  the  globe.  Its  motive  is  of  such 
elemental  significance  and  character  as  to  make  its  worth 
and  desirableness  recognized  in  any  zone.  The  funda- 
mental truth  and  unchanging  beauty  expressed  by  the  broad  pro- 
tecting brim  shading  the  almost  human  face  of  the  wall  below, 
are  irresistible  in  their  appeal. 

The  chalet  motive  is  not  Swiss ;  it  is  not  Tyrolean,  nor  Hima- 
layan. It  is  universal.  And  by  reason  of  its  inherent  beauty  it  is 
adaptable  to  any  site  and  any  condition  where  land  is  plentiful,  and 
where  picturesqueness  and  harmony  with  the  natural  surround- 
ings are  the  first  considerations.  The  chalet  is  especially  adapt- 
able as  a  country  house.  We  give  an  example  of  a  chalet  at  Sem- 
mering  in  the  Austrian  Tyrol.     (Page  147.) 

Coming  to  our  own  shores,  we  find  at  the  foot  of  Dongan 
Hills,  Staten  Island,  overlooking  the  Atlantic,  a  diminutive 
chalet  built  by  Werner  Boecklin,  landscape  architect,  in  remem- 
brance of  the  home  of  his  ancestors,  for  an  office,  which  is  the 
headquarters  for  his  small  draughting  and  clerical  force. 

The  office,  in  size  a  shed,  makes  an  instant  impression,  per- 
haps through  its  divergence  from  the  ordinary  styles  of  the  sur- 
rounding buildings,  perhaps  through  the  innate  value  of  the 
architectural  elements  of  the  Swiss  chalet  style.  Upon  being 
pressed,  Mr.  Boecklin  admitted  that  none  but  agreeable  opinions 
had  been  uttered,  to  his  knowledge,  concerning  his  miniature 
chalet. 

The  "chalette"  is  wood,  inside  and  out;  not  painted.    A 

marked  Swiss  air  is  given  to  it  by  the  ruddy  brown  of  its  walls 

made  by  the  application  of  a  coat  of  pine  tar  preparation,  thus 

retaining  the  rugged  strength  of  the  grain  of  its  pine  siding;  for, 

strange  to  say,  it  is  by  means  of  thin  7-8  inch  novelty  siding,  bl/2 

inches  wide,  that  the  effect  of  the  tiers  of  horizontal  wall  beams 

127 


128  AMERICAN  ADAPTATIONS 

of  the  Swiss  chalet  is  produced.  The  vertical  wall-end  extensions 
are  hollow  box  work,  the  consoles,  however,  being  made  by  the 
moulded  ends  of  3^-inch  beams,  as  shown  in  Figs.  34  and  35. 

The  office  is  a  room  12  feet  wide  by  19  feet  long,  14  feet  high 
at  the  peak,  and  10  feet  at  the  eaves;  the  horizontal  projection  of 


Hi 


C 


FIG.    34  FIG.    35 

the  roof  edges  all  around  is  3  feet  8  inches,  eaves  and  gables.  The 
detail  of  the  horizontal  shelf  moulding  over  the  triple  front  win- 
dow is  simply  that  of  a  conventional  cornice  supported  on  modil- 
lions ;  its  soffit  is  8  feet  8  inches  above  grade.  The  interior  walls 
are  finished  with  vertical  strips  of  cypress  separated  by  vertical 
mouldings  and  all  stained  a  delicate  gray  with  an  emerald  tint 
added.     The  furnishings  are  similarly  tinted. 

The  most  notable  American  adaptations  of  the  chalet,  how- 
ever, are  to  be  found  on  the  other  extremity  of  the  continent,  the 
Pacific  slope,  especially  Southern  California  and  the  shores  of  San 
Francisco  Bay.  A  considerable  body  of  architects  in  both  these 
sections  are  contributing  to  the  reproducing  in  this  land  of  rolling 
hills  and  sandy  shores,  of  the  Alpine  "Landhaus";  also  numerous 
writers  in  the  most  popular  illustrated  home  and  country  maga- 
zines are  helping  to  disseminate  a  general  interest  in  the  move- 
ment and  a  better  knowledge  of  the  style. 

The  raw  material  for  the  chalet  of  the  Pacific  slope  is  almost 
a  duplication  in  color  of  that  of  the  Alps:  in  Switzerland  the 
chalet  is  of  red-pine;  in  California  it  is  of  red-wood.  In  both 
cases  the  "complexion"  is  a  swarthy,  deep-hued  and  glowing  tan 
color;  in  both  cases  it  is  the  natural  wood  that  one  sees,  colored 
and  accentuated  by  transparent  stain.  Whereas  in  Switzerland 
the  age-old  custom  of  tiers  of  beams,  laid  horizontally,  persists, 
in  the  transplanted  chalet  vertical  boards  and  cleats  and  shingles, 
or  shakes,  as  a  covering  to  a  wooden  skeleton,  prevail.  The  self- 
restraint  of  the  Swiss  balcony  expands  here  into  the  broad  veranda, 
or  interior  sleeping  porch.  Whereas  the  entrance  to  a  Swiss 
chalet,  for  an  American,  is  often  difficult  to  discover,  that  of  the 
Californian  is  given  the  place  of  honor  directly  at  the  front. 


AMERICAN  ADAPTATIONS 


129 


FIG.    36 


Through  the  courtesy  of  the  Milwaukee  Building  Company 
of  Los  Angeles,  we  are  able  to  present  plans  and  photographs  of 
a  Southern  Californian  adaptation  of  the  Swiss  chalet. 

If  we  suppose  the  "cover"  to  be  removed,  and  ourselves  look- 
ing at  the  shell  thus  exposed  from  a  position  slightly  above  it, 
the  effect  produced  would  be  similar  to  that  of  the  diagram  in 
Fig.  36.  The  relative  impor- 
tance of  the  four  divisions  of  the 
structure  is  seen  at  a  glance;  the 
main  central  limb,  54  feet  long 
by  16  feet  6  inches  wide  and  30 
feet  high  at  the  peak;  the  rear 
arm  34  feet  long  by  16  feet  deep 
by  30  feet  high;  the  front  ell  14 
feet  by  14  feet  by  24  feet  high; 
and  lastly  the  rustic  pergola  52 
feet  long  by  10  feet  wide  and  10 
feet  high. 

The  division  into  stories  is  one  at  the  ground  level,  and  one 
above  this  with  a  flat,  unused  roof  space;  under  the  rear  portion 
is  a  cellar.  The  disposition  of  space  is  indicated  in  the  first  and 
second  floor  plans  given  on  page  135. 

In  the  first  story,  the  central  limb  is  divided  broadly  and 
generously  into  the  wide  middle  hall  with  a  large  room  on  each 
side;  it  connects  with  the  three  other  elements;  the  pergola  near 
its  left  end;  the  rear  arm  near  its  middle;  and  the  front  ell,  at 
the  middle.  The  division  of  the  rear  portion  is  also  tri-partite, 
with  the  wide  circulation  space  in  the  center  flanked  by  an  equal- 
sized  room  on  each  side. 

The  maid's  room,  and  the  alcove  in  front  of  it  are  interest- 
ing and  unique  features,  as  is  also  the  interior  screen  porch.  The 
front  ell  is  given  up  to  an  attractive  feature,  the  den,  with  wide 
entrances,  a  triple  window,  fireplace  and  beamed  ceiling.  The 
pergola  is  floored  with  small  square  flags,  and  roofed  by  open 
beam  work  supported  on  rustic  red-wood  columns;  this  serves  as 
a  delightful  arbor  for  use  in  clear  weather. 

In  the  second  story  the  central  limb  is  divided  into  five  por- 
tions with  bathroom  in  the  middle,  flanked  on  each  side  by  a  bed- 
room and,  at  the  end,  an  interior,  open-air  balcony.  The  rear 
portion  is  more  complex,  consisting  of  a  long  stair-hall  with  a  bed- 
room at  either  end  and  a  bath  at  the  middle.     At  the  front  the 


130  AMERICAN  ADAPTATIONS 

den  of  the  first  story  has  become  a  sun  room,  with  walls  prac- 
tically of  glass. 

On  page  133  are  shown  views  of  a  California  chalet  which  has 
a  distinct  tendency  towards  the  Japanese.  In  the  exterior  the 
open  spaces  above  and  below  are  unique;  much  of  the  character, 
too,  depends  upon  the  horizontal  railing  of  the  upper  porches,  and 
the  general  openness  and  freedom  of  the  beam  and  frame-work. 
The  interior  gives  an  effect  of  high  polishing,  on  the  shallow  open- 
beam  work  of  the  ceiling  as  well  as  the  panel  mouldings  and  stairs. 
The  treatment  of  the  glass  in  doors  and  windows  with  Japanese  de- 
signs is  most  happy  and  characteristic. 

Across  the  bay  from  "Frisco"  in  the  university  town  of  Berk- 
eley, the  chalet  seed  has  been  planted,  and  there  have  sprung  up 
under  the  fostering  care  of  Maybeck  and  White  a  number  of 
Californian  variations  of  the  Alpine  original. 

A  typical  example  is  the  home  of  the  Rev.  S.  D.  Hutsunpiller, 
situated  on  a  charming  slope  and  closely  girded  by  a  host  of  shrubs, 
vines  and  flowers.  The  exterior  wall  surfaces  are  covered  with 
the  shakes  and  strips  of  the  native  red  wood,  all  laid  on  vertically, 
the  former  in  the  first  story,  the  latter  from  there  on  to  the  roof. 

The  fagade,  shown  in  the  view,  presents  a  charming  study  in 
the  Swiss  chalet  mode,  the  upper  window  group  with  its  associated 
balcony,  symmetrically  placed,  forming  its  center  of  interest.  As 
this  middle  motive  dominates,  in  a  small  way,  the  attractive  en- 
trance balcony  and  doorway  group,  together  with  the  triple  win- 
dow feature  beyond,  so,  in  more  vigorous  fashion  the  heavy-shad- 
ing gable  at  the  top  dominates  the  whole.  Details  at  the  entrance 
corner  are  shown  on  page  137. 

The  house  of  Albert  Schneider,  while  not  so  convincingly 
Swiss  in  contour,  adapts  effectively  the  Swiss  system  of  open-air 
structure,  including  bracketed  balconies  under  long  raking  gables. 

A  corner  of  the  home  of  Mrs.  G.  L.  Sanderson  is  unique,  as 
being  an  example  of  a  single  story  shaded  by  a  strong,  heavily- 
bracketed  roof-projection.  The  two  window  groups  are  char- 
acteristic, but  the  general  attractiveness  is  slightly  marred  by  the 
unaesthetic  line  of  pipe  running  on  a  slant  from  the  corner  of  the 
bay  and  across  the  space  under  the  other  group.  A  number  of 
examples  of  Swiss  chalet  adaptations  are  to  be  seen  in  the  dis- 
tance. An  enticing  corner  interior,  consisting  of  a  well-polished 
floor,  a  simply  panelled  wall,  with  delightfully  Swiss  seats  and 
table  in  the  above  home,  are  the  subject  of  the  next  illustration. 
Another  interior  of  this  home  favors  the  Japanese. 


AN  AMERICAN  MODEL  AT  DONGAN  HILLS,  STATEN  ISLAND,  NEW  YORK 

Werner    Boecklin,    Landscape    Architect. 
131 


A    Distant   View 


View    from    the    Left    Front 
A  CHALET  IN  SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA 

Milwaukee  Building  Co.,  Architectural  Designers. 
132 


A   CHALET   IN  THE   JAPANESE    STYLE 


Greene  &  Greene,  Architects. 


133 


134 


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Second   Story   Plan 
A  CHALET  IN  SOUTHERN  CALIFORNIA 

Milwaukee    Building    Co.,    Architectural   Designers. 
135 


136 


AMERICAN  ADAPTATIONS 


The  home  of  Mr.  William  H.  Rees  of  Berkeley  given  on 
page  139  is  an  example  in  life  size  of  a  Swiss  trinket.  The  in- 
spiration for  this  was  a  Swiss  toy  which  Mr.  Rees  desired  to  have 
expanded  into  a  home  for  himself.  The  details  as  worked  out  by 
the  architects  are  necessarily  crude  and  naive. 

The  house  of  Mrs.  E.  L.  Jocker  exhibits,  perhaps,  a  minimum 
of  Swiss  detail;  the  California  characteristic  of  an  inside  upper 
porch  is  to  be  seen  at  the  upper  corner.  The  color  scheme  of  the 
exterior  is  made  up  of  red  eaves,  bright  blue  rafters,  red  sash  in 
the  second  story  windows,  green  shutters,  blue  window  trim;  at 
the  first  story  the  window  sash  are  gray  to  match  the  cement  wall 
finish. 


OQ 


HOME   OF  KEY.  S.   1).   HUTSUNPILLER 


HOME    OF    MRS.    G.    L.    SANDERSON 


Maybeck    &    White,   Architects. 


137 


TWO  INTERIORS  IN  HOME  OF  MRS.  G.  L.  SANDERSON 

May  beck  &   White,  Architects. 


138 


HOME  OF  WILLIAM   II.   KKKS 


HOME  OF  MRS.  E.  L.  JOCKER  Maybeck  &■  White,  Architects. 


139 


140 


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PARSONAGE   AT   STEINEN 

Gladbach's  "Der  Schweiser  Holsstyl. 


144 


Front  Elevation  and  Main  Story  Plan 
CHALET  FELICE,  ANNECY 

145 


Spring   Frires. 


Front  Elevation  and  Main  Story  Plan 

CHALET  OF  M.  LOUIS  PATRIE,  GENEVA 

146 


Spring   Freres. 


VILLA   AT    SEMMERING,   AUSTRIA 

Architektonische   Details   aus    Wiet 


CHALET  AT  OBERREITH,  AUSTRIA 


/.  Eigl's  "Das  Salsburgcr  Gebirgshaus." 


147 


PANELLING   IN  AN  OLD  HOUSE  IN  ALTDORF 

Burgerhaus  in  der  Schweis. 


STAIRS  IN  AN  OLD   HOUSE  IN  ALTDORF 


148 


Burgerhaus  in   der  Schweiz- 


EXAMPLES  OF   STOVES  FROM  HOUSES  IN   ALTDORF 

Burgerhaus  in  der  Schweiz. 


149 


Front    Elevation    and    Main    Story    Plan 
CHALET   MONT-BLANC 


Spring    Freres. 


150 


BIBLIOGRAPHY  151 

BIBLIOGRAPHY 

1.  Eigl,  J.,  K.  K.  Regierungs — Ober-Ingenieur  in  Salzburg, 

"Das  Salzburger  Gebirgshaus,"  Wien,  Ad.  Lehmann,  1894. 

2.  Gladbach,  E.,  Professor  der  Architektur  am  Polytechnikum  in  Zurich; 

"Characteristische  Holzbauten  der  Schweiz,"  Berlin,  Ch.  Claesen  &  Cie 
("Characteristic   Swiss  Style   Buildings."     New  York,   Hessling  & 
Spielmeyer). 

3.  Gladbach,  Ernst,  Professor  am  Polytechnikum  in  Zurich; 

"Der   Schweizer   Holzstyl     .     .     .     mit   Holzbauten   Deutschlands." 
Zurich,  Verlag  von  Caesar  Schmidt,   1882. 

4.  Graffenried  and  Sturler, 

"Architecture  Suisse;  ou  Choix  des  Maisons-rustiques  des  Alpes  du  Canton 
de  Berne."     Berne:  J.  J.  Burgdorfer,  Libraire,  1844. 

5.  Herausgegeben  vom   Schweizerischen,   Ingenieur-und   Architektenverein. 

"Das  Burgerhaus  in  der  Schweiz,"  Verlag  von  Helbing  &  Lichtenbahn 
Basel,  1 9 10. 

6.  Varin,  Pierre  Amedee  and 
Varin,  Eugene  Napoleon, 

"L Architecture  Pittoresque  en  Suisse."     Paris:  A.  Morel  et  Cie,  Editeurs, 
1873. 

7.  VlOLLET-LE-DuC,   EUGENE   EMMANUEL, 

"Histoire  de  l'habitation  humaine,  depuis  les  temps  prehistoriques  jusqu  a 
nos  jours."     Paris:  J.  Hetzel  et  Cie,  1875. 


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